1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:17,239 Speaker 1: A podcast playground Walking as a joy to never be 2 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: taken for granted. At its core, it is one of 3 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: the most mindful moments that allows us to escape to 4 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: unique and beautiful places. It can be a moment of 5 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: solitude alone in reflection, or it can represent a bond 6 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: with a companion enjoying sights, sounds, and smells. Walking was 7 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 1: a habit of my father, who used the practice to 8 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 1: blow some stink off, as my mom used to refer 9 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:49,240 Speaker 1: to it as his fuse was lit by the aggravation 10 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 1: of the day. Hours later, and a pack of cigarettes lighter, 11 00:00:54,040 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 1: he would return to the house a more content Soulhilosophers 12 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 1: use walking for their mindfulness and productivity, as Aristotle was 13 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 1: famous for walking and talking facilitating learning, and Henry Thureaux 14 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 1: believed walking through nature allows us to grow spiritually. The 15 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 1: Vietnamese monk Teach not Han believes when we walk, it 16 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:26,119 Speaker 1: is possible to enjoy every step we make. I'm buzznight 17 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: and today I'm taking a walk. We go for a 18 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 1: stroll with one of my favorite people on the planet. 19 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 1: Rich Trethaway is a renaissance man who lives on Block Island, 20 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 1: Rhode Island, which happens to be one of the most 21 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: beautiful places in the world to do everything, including taking 22 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: a walk. Taking a walk here in Block Island with 23 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 1: one of my favorite people. I refer to him in 24 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: the introduction as a bit of a renaissance man, Rich Treathaway. Hey, 25 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: how are you? I'm great, Rich, and I'm even better 26 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: that I'm with you. How do you take the notion 27 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 1: that I suggested of you being a renaissance man? First 28 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: of all, you looked at me when I said it, 29 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:10,519 Speaker 1: and I thought you were going to punch me in 30 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 1: the nose. Well, you know, I'm not even sure I 31 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 1: really understand that whole concept of a renaissance person. But 32 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,920 Speaker 1: let's just say I've been ever evolving. I think, you know, 33 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 1: in my own way, I would say that's an understatement. 34 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:28,920 Speaker 1: As long as I've known you, you've done many different things. 35 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:33,080 Speaker 1: Tell the audience about some of the things that you've 36 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 1: done throughout your storied life and career. Well, I started 37 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:43,960 Speaker 1: as a paper boy, I'm a dishwasher, and I became 38 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 1: a kitchen manager at a restaurant out here We're on 39 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 1: Lovely Block Island, and eventually a friend of mine and 40 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: I we opened up a restaurant together and in the wintertime, 41 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: I've done caretaking. I was asked to be in a 42 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:01,079 Speaker 1: short film and I ended up hearing in Home. I 43 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 1: don't know about thirty different films. It was a lot 44 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 1: of fun. I like that. And my most recent endeavor 45 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:09,919 Speaker 1: with my friend Mark is a podcast which were really 46 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 1: enjoying doing Two Guys on Block Island. Yeah, that's the 47 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: name of it. Keep it simple, Two Guys on Block 48 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 1: Island and we interview everybody from the waitress at the 49 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 1: or to the summer homeowner to the guy who was 50 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:28,160 Speaker 1: born here in nineteen thirty eight. And congratulations on the 51 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:32,359 Speaker 1: success of it. You've built this in a short amount 52 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 1: of time into something very special. Tell me how much 53 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 1: fun it's been going through the process of talking to 54 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: all these many characters that are on the podcast. Well, 55 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 1: it was terrifying at first, because you know, I really 56 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 1: was like, how are we going to fill up an 57 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: hour of time? And then it's just been great. Everybody's 58 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: got a story in there, and just some of them 59 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 1: don't know. And I've had so many guests who said, 60 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 1: you know, oh, I'm not funny here, nobody's going to 61 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: want to know about me, And I'll be like, we're done, 62 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 1: an hour's up. We got to wrap this up, and 63 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 1: they're like, really, we just in an hour, you know, 64 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:08,960 Speaker 1: and it's it's been a blessing and it really and 65 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: I feel great that we're capturing some of these people 66 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 1: that they're great great grandkids will be able to hear 67 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: their stories, you know, and I think it's just wonderful. Well, 68 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 1: if somebody has never been to Block Island, because I 69 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 1: know there's many people that I still encounter to this 70 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: day who go what and they live in Massachusetts, by 71 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:30,600 Speaker 1: the way, it's just a funny park. So if somebody's 72 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 1: never been to Block Island, tell them what Block Island 73 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:39,480 Speaker 1: is about. It's, you know, much time do we have? 74 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 1: I don't know. Yeah, it's people come here for what 75 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,719 Speaker 1: it's not. You know, there's no golf courses, there's no 76 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 1: you know, you don't pay for parking at the beach 77 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,159 Speaker 1: in a big lot. It's you know, there's dirt roads 78 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:54,160 Speaker 1: you can go down and you find Mansion Beach and 79 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:57,239 Speaker 1: you know, just parking an old foundation of a mansion 80 00:04:57,240 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: that burned down years ago, and you know, the whole 81 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 1: island speed limits twenty five and people are pretty laid 82 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 1: back most of the time, and it's just a really 83 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 1: it's a different place. It's different. There's no commercial McDonald's 84 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:14,280 Speaker 1: and dunkin Donuts and all that stuff. So you know, 85 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:17,839 Speaker 1: it's what makes it different. It separates us from a 86 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: lot of the other places. Well, because my sense of 87 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: it is it knows what it is and it's not 88 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 1: trying to be something that it isn't. No, and there 89 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 1: is a battle because there are people that do try 90 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:34,159 Speaker 1: to change it, and you know, we try to hold 91 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 1: back as hard as we can. I like to say, 92 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 1: we like to I feel we kind of drag behind 93 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 1: about twenty years from as other things evolve, we catch up. 94 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: For example, we're in twenty twenty one and we're just 95 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 1: about to get high speed internet, which says it all right, 96 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: I mean, doesn't that you know, kind of sum it up. 97 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, I mean the other thing about 98 00:05:57,240 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 1: block On is the nature. We have species here of 99 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:03,039 Speaker 1: insects and ants that are you know, the last grounds 100 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:04,880 Speaker 1: for them. We've been said, if they're gone here, they're 101 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:09,160 Speaker 1: gone everywhere, and you know, so the nature walks, the 102 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 1: beaches of pristine the water. I mean, it's just everything 103 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:16,799 Speaker 1: about it besides the people, the community and the location. 104 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:21,039 Speaker 1: It's just gorgeous here. And I think there's a few 105 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:26,719 Speaker 1: characters maybe that inhabit the island twelve months a year. 106 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 1: Is that correct? Oh? Yeah, I like I like to say, 107 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,280 Speaker 1: you know, we live here year round with I don't 108 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:35,680 Speaker 1: know what the last count was. It's a bunch of 109 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 1: guys sit at a bar and say who lives on 110 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 1: that road and they write down the numbers. I think 111 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 1: that's how they come up with how many people live here. 112 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: Let's say it's nine hundred. It's like a family of 113 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:46,480 Speaker 1: nine hundred, and instead of having one crazy uncle, you 114 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:49,040 Speaker 1: got twenty of them, you know, But you know, we 115 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,840 Speaker 1: take care of each other. And I think that's it's 116 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 1: a family feeling out here. And how did you end 117 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 1: up on block island? My? Oh gosh. My great grandmother 118 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:08,159 Speaker 1: and her sister, one of them worked in an office 119 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 1: with someone in Brooklyn, New York who owned a cottage 120 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:12,880 Speaker 1: here and said, you should really go check out this island. 121 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna get the year right, but I'm going 122 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 1: to go with around nineteen thirties, and they came out 123 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 1: and they bought a bunch of land, and so for 124 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 1: generations our family. This is our summer vacation spot. My 125 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 1: first probably I was about ten years old. We didn't 126 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: have running water or electricity at the cottage, you know, 127 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 1: still the outhouse and the pump. We'd pump rainwater and 128 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 1: you know, but that's how I came to be and 129 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:42,239 Speaker 1: got my summer job. And I knew in high school 130 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 1: that I never wanted to leave as soon as I 131 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 1: didn't have to. You know, I knew that I was 132 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 1: going to graduate high school and move here and stay 133 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:51,240 Speaker 1: here and been here about thirty two years. And you 134 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 1: do go off island from time to time. Yeah, yeah, 135 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 1: I mean when we were younger, a little poorer, you know, 136 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 1: it was a big event to go off island. But 137 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 1: now you know, there's very different ferry schedules. You can 138 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,880 Speaker 1: hop on boats, and not to mention, they're not the 139 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 1: size of a rowboat, which used to be the case 140 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 1: and you'd get sick. So this bigger boat's more comfortable, 141 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:15,239 Speaker 1: and so we go off. Now, yeah, in the winter, 142 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:17,040 Speaker 1: I'll try to go off once a week if I can. 143 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 1: And we got a lot of family in the Rhode 144 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:22,240 Speaker 1: Island area, so we go visit brothers and sisters, and 145 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 1: you know, it's really nice. So, since we're on the 146 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:31,920 Speaker 1: Taking a Walk podcast, we're walking on Block Island right 147 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:36,559 Speaker 1: near a place called Fresh Pond, and it's one of 148 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 1: many special places. But what are some of the other 149 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 1: special places here within the island that come to your mind? Well? 150 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:50,559 Speaker 1: I love the Southeast Lighthouse, which there's a great story 151 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:53,319 Speaker 1: about how they moved it about twenty five thirty years 152 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 1: ago because it was erosion was going to cause it 153 00:08:56,040 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 1: to fall into the sea. I love the beaches, you know, 154 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:03,959 Speaker 1: the sunsets on the west side, Dorri's Cove, Gracie's Cove. 155 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:06,079 Speaker 1: I'm a big fisherman, so I love all the spots 156 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 1: we can fish. I mean, I was just out in 157 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:11,680 Speaker 1: Fresh Pond yesterday fishing and caught a couple of nice 158 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 1: largemouth bass put them back. Of course, we encourage to 159 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 1: catch and release. But yeah, I mean, I've lived here 160 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:21,959 Speaker 1: thirty something years and I'll go to a different driveway 161 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 1: that I've never been down, and it's like a totally 162 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 1: new view that I never even knew existed here, even 163 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 1: though it's only you know, a few miles wide by 164 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 1: a few miles long. And that's always taken me back 165 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 1: every once in a while I love that that new 166 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 1: find that you just mentioned, Yeah, that you just find 167 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:45,679 Speaker 1: something you hadn't seen. Yesterday as we were out at 168 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 1: the lighthouse, we saw off for us the first time 169 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:55,839 Speaker 1: all the seals. Yeah, yeah, first time ever. I mean 170 00:09:55,880 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 1: we've seen seals from a distance, but ever all congregating there, 171 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 1: which was just freaking magical. Yeah, I mean, I mean 172 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 1: it's it's very cool and as and I guess you 173 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 1: know as of this podcast here, they've just piping plovers 174 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 1: have returned after like a decade away, so down in 175 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 1: the same area. So that's seagull nesting ground up there. 176 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 1: I mean, that's gorgeous too. You want to be a 177 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:26,840 Speaker 1: little careful what term of year you walk through there, 178 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 1: but yeah, you can borrow my seagull costume. But yeah, 179 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: it's a beautiful, beautiful spot out there. I mean, and 180 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 1: I always feel by that north lighthouse when you look 181 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 1: out that point. So that's where they For those of 182 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 1: you listening and don't know, black I own Blockhunt has 183 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 1: a north point. It comes with a very sharp point. 184 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:49,360 Speaker 1: As a reef out there, it almost feels like you're 185 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: at the end of the earth and you can see 186 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:54,719 Speaker 1: the two tides coming together and it's really just an 187 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:57,840 Speaker 1: amazing you know, Malcolm Greenaway is one of our characters 188 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 1: and he's an amazing photographer, and he's got a shot 189 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 1: of that of this of the tides clashing and the 190 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:06,680 Speaker 1: waves going up in the air and causing a rainbow, 191 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:09,679 Speaker 1: and it's you know, it's just one of those natural wonders. 192 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 1: So when you think of what happens to people when 193 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 1: they come to Block Island and they go for walks 194 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: and they go to the beach, I think people lose, 195 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:26,679 Speaker 1: you know, their problems to a great degree when they 196 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 1: when they come here, which is the idea of coming 197 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 1: on vacation, isn't it. You know. I think that there's 198 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 1: certain people that when you're around them, they give you 199 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:39,600 Speaker 1: that peace and tranquility just talking to them like you 200 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 1: But if there's a place where you can drop back 201 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 1: and you know, just enjoy being instead of surviving, and 202 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 1: I think it takes them out of survivoral mode that 203 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 1: day to day survive, survives, survive into this. I'm just 204 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 1: gonna be while I'm here and that's it, and there's 205 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 1: not I don't need to do anything else other than 206 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 1: just be enjoy the enjoy The name nature, enjoy the walks, 207 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:03,440 Speaker 1: Enjoy the people. You get a lot of smiles, you 208 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 1: get a lot of helloes, you know, and at least 209 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: for most people, and there's a few that don't, we 210 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:14,600 Speaker 1: try to compensate for them a little bit. We can. Well, 211 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 1: I have to say, taking a walk in Block Island 212 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 1: is always a spectacular occurrence wherever it is, but taking 213 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 1: a walk with Rich truth Away is extra special. And 214 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:30,320 Speaker 1: I thank you. Hey, I got one quick question, Yes, sir, 215 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 1: did you know that you're supposed to say on Block Island? 216 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 1: Not in Block Island? So there's a just gotta gotta 217 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 1: teach you that one the local lore. See you're on 218 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 1: an island, you're not in it now, you know. Well, 219 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 1: next time I'll get my que card ready. It's no 220 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:52,080 Speaker 1: fun with Q cards. This is much better. Taking a 221 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 1: walk with Buzz Night available on Spotify, iTunes and wherever 222 00:12:58,320 --> 00:12:59,679 Speaker 1: podcasts are available.