http://www.myviewfromthemiddle.com
I tell of some major news events that I covered as a broadcast journalist for 40+ years like the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster or the fall of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay.  I tell of some embarrassing moments like the time I spent a couple of hours at a bar with one of the greatest baseball players in history and I didn't even know who he was, and the time I had to send a letter of apology to the mayor of Orlando!

I also talk about my faith and the all-encompassing role it played in all of it. 

I think you'll enjoy and appreciate My View from the Middle.]]>enPersonal JournalsJim Polinghttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/770218bbf19af5b3ed3678d594a7735e.jpghttp://www.myviewfromthemiddle.comFri, 17 Jul 2026 13:12:37 +0000Jim PolingJim Polingjim@myviewfromthemiddle.comHave you ever been put in the middle of things?  Clowns to the left of you, jokers to the right as the song goes?  Well, I have.  This podcast is a collection of stories that you might relate to in some cases, be entertained by in others, and be made...
I tell of some major news events that I covered as a broadcast journalist for 40+ years like the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster or the fall of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay.  I tell of some embarrassing moments like the time I spent a couple of hours at a bar with one of the greatest baseball players in history and I didn't even know who he was, and the time I had to send a letter of apology to the mayor of Orlando!

I also talk about my faith and the all-encompassing role it played in all of it. 

I think you'll enjoy and appreciate My View from the Middle.]]>falseepisodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/38-as-god-as-my-witness-i-thought-turkeys-could-fly--73027360https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73027360Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:10:34 +0000Jim PolingEver hear of a thing called the "Peter Principle"? I have, and have seen it in all of its spectacular glory!1121false338fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/37-don-t-let-what-you-do-define-who-you-are--72730261https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72730261Sun, 28 Jun 2026 17:04:55 +0000Jim PolingHow do you determine YOUR self worth?665false337fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/36-welcome-to-florida-the-critter-state--68276263https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68276263Sat, 25 Oct 2025 12:52:28 +0000Jim PolingHave you ever heard a rustling in your attic? Welcome to Florida!  The Critter state.824false236fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/35-did-you-ever-know-that-you-re-my-hero--67856159https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67856159Mon, 22 Sep 2025 21:34:41 +0000Jim PolingHave you had someone that you can say made a monumental difference in your life? 736false235fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/34-on-a-mission-from-gaad--67497605The Chosen.  It was an experience of a lifetime!]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67497605Sun, 24 Aug 2025 18:54:35 +0000Jim PolingMy wife Melodee and I signed on to be extras in the TV series The Chosen.  It was an experience of a lifetime!The Chosen.  It was an experience of a lifetime!]]>985false234fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/33-if-you-re-alive-in-2025-live-in-2025--66437009https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66437009Sat, 07 Jun 2025 10:54:34 +0000Jim PolingHave you ever encountered someone who refuses to accept technology?  1023false233fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/32-the-c-word--66248059https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66248059Sat, 24 May 2025 11:26:48 +0000Jim PolingYou know the best way to get someone's attention?  Tell them they have cancer.653false232fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/31-dad-isms--66027498https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66027498Sat, 10 May 2025 11:25:06 +0000Jim PolingYou've heard of "Dad Jokes".  How about "Dad-isms"?747false231fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/30-get-off-my-lawn--65698362https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65698362Sat, 26 Apr 2025 10:00:08 +0000Jim PolingIs it true that once a guy retires he becomes that cantakerous old dude who lives down the block?  Probably.877false230fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/29-the-pumpkin-pie-that-tried-to-kill-me--65523969https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65523969Sat, 12 Apr 2025 10:00:07 +0000Jim PolingEver have a confectionary try to do you in?  I did.798false229fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/28-the-story-of-fred-and-ethel--65216956https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65216956Sat, 29 Mar 2025 13:22:35 +0000Jim PolingEver have a person stolen from you?  I have. 952false228fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/27-happy-anniversary-baby--64897652https://api.spreaker.com/episode/64897652Sat, 15 Mar 2025 09:42:58 +0000Jim PolingMarking our 1 year anniversary of this podcast!  Happy Anniversary Baby! Now, maybe, it's YOUR turn?440false227fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/26-clowns-to-the-left-of-me-jokers-to-the-right--64590811https://api.spreaker.com/episode/64590811Sat, 01 Mar 2025 11:00:07 +0000Jim PolingThere are a lot of characters in this world and in the broadcasting business you encounter all sorts of them.871false126fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/25-radio-can-be-just-plain-weird--64390882https://api.spreaker.com/episode/64390882Sat, 15 Feb 2025 11:42:23 +0000Jim PolingSpending 40 years in the radio business can teach a person a lot.  If nothing else, it teaches you that radio is just plain weird!918false125fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/24-ya-gotta-do-what-ya-gotta-do--64082401https://api.spreaker.com/episode/64082401Sat, 01 Feb 2025 11:00:07 +0000Jim PolingSometimes life takes an unexpected turn and you wind up off the beaten path.  To survive sometimes Ya Gotta Do What Ya Gotta Do.885false124fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/23-the-big-fat-park--63725835https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63725835Sat, 18 Jan 2025 11:00:07 +0000Jim PolingHow playing a mentally challenged couple can not only minister to others, but to yourself as well.566false123fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/22-pasketti--63572830https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63572830Sat, 04 Jan 2025 10:12:24 +0000Jim PolingHow a dinner of "pasketti" and meatballs can turn into a 38+ year marriage.424false122fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/21-go-at-throttle-up--63428480https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63428480Sat, 21 Dec 2024 16:29:29 +0000Jim PolingIt's a phrase that will echo in our minds forever.  It signaled the end of a space mission and the lives of 7 astronauts: "Roger! Go at Throttle Up".978false121fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/20-bow-the-knee--63205498https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63205498Sat, 07 Dec 2024 13:14:46 +0000Jim PolingIf you could go back in time and change the outcome of just one event, what event would that be? And, have you ever wondered why God lets horrible things happen?466false120fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/19-games-companies-play--62811575https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62811575Sat, 23 Nov 2024 11:00:07 +0000Jim PolingOne day a bunch of people get fired.  The next day the remaining employees are expected to rally.  Kinda gives you a twitch!788false119fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/18-the-president-is-sick--62663073https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62663073Sat, 09 Nov 2024 11:00:02 +0000Jim PolingEnvision yourself as a second grader in 1963 in a Catholic school.  All of a sudden your on your knees on the hard tile floor of the classroom.  Why?  Well the president is sick, of course.328false118fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/17-the-media-is-the-massage--62512551https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62512551Sat, 26 Oct 2024 13:07:52 +0000Jim PolingDid Marshall McLuhan have a vision for the future when he wrote his book "The Medium is the Massage"?  It looks that way.678false117fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/16-the-rest-of-the-story--62208525https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62208525Sat, 12 Oct 2024 10:00:04 +0000Jim PolingPete Rose, Rush Limbaugh, Paul Harvey, Larry the Cable Guy, and Minnie Pearl.  It's a name droppers paradise!878false116fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/15-a-view-from-the-ivory-tower-pt2--62132704https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62132704Sat, 28 Sep 2024 10:00:01 +0000Jim PolingPart 2 of this two parter where I'll tell you about a famous television evangelist who bought our company, and the GM who fired a secretary who bought him a "penis cake".596false115fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/14-a-view-from-the-ivory-tower-pt1--61587161https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61587161Sat, 14 Sep 2024 10:01:16 +0000Jim PolingHave you ever encountered an "Ivory Tower Manager"?  I have. And I bet you have too!1061false114fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/13-dates-that-live-in-infamy--61191474https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61191474Sat, 31 Aug 2024 10:00:02 +0000Jim PolingFDR told the world that December 7th, 1941 was a date that would live in infamy - and it does.  But there are many others too.777false113fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/12-suckers-and-balloons--61035989https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61035989Sun, 18 Aug 2024 09:33:29 +0000Jim PolingWe thought it was an omen that would launch our music career.  548false112fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/11-uncle-doyt--60910690https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60910690Sat, 03 Aug 2024 12:36:13 +0000Jim PolingBet you've never heard the name "Doyt" before.  I have, and he was my favorite uncle!446false111fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/10-the-pope-died-and-no-one-called-me--60751554https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60751554Sat, 20 Jul 2024 16:34:50 +0000Jim PolingI was a good Catholic.  When the Pope died, someone really should have let me know!1059false110fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/09-how-to-have-a-career-for-dummies--60592622https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60592622Sun, 07 Jul 2024 16:01:05 +0000Jim PolingWhat makes for a successful career? Google and a lot of help from "For Dummies" books.624careers,dummies,programming,webfalse19fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/08-detroit-burns--60464145https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60464145Sun, 23 Jun 2024 16:00:04 +0000Jim PolingOn our way home to Michigan from a family vacation in Florida we pick up a newspaper.  The big block letter headline read "Detroit Burns". Will there be a city left when we get back?661false18fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/07-you-bit-my-hand--60090329https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60090329Sun, 09 Jun 2024 16:00:04 +0000Jim PolingThe story of the day I peeled my boss's hands away from the throat of a shoplifter!    1261false17fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/06-the-pimple--60090311https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60090311Sun, 26 May 2024 16:00:04 +0000Jim PolingHow something as ridiculous as a pimple resulted in a gurney thrill ride through Orlando Regional Medical Center!  864false16fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/05-stupid-is-as-stupid-does--59922876https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59922876Sun, 12 May 2024 16:00:04 +0000Jim PolingThis is more than just a Forest Gump movie quote.  We've all done stupid things.  Me included!726false15fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/04-the-day-the-skyway-fell--59566007https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59566007Sun, 28 Apr 2024 16:00:04 +0000Jim PolingOn March 26, 2024 a cargo ship rammed the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore - a horrible maritime disaster for Maryland. This is somewhat déjà vu for me because 44 years ago I found myself in the middle of one of the worst maritime disasters in...967bridge,disaster,skyway,sunshinefalse14fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/03-a-god-thing--59328443https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59328443Sun, 14 Apr 2024 16:00:04 +0000Jim PolingAre there really such things as coincidences?893false13fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/02-a-clueless-brush-with-greatness--59042443https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59042443Sun, 31 Mar 2024 18:00:02 +0000Jim PolingI spent 2 hours talking to a guy in a bar, not realizing he was one of the greatest baseball players of all time!865baseball,broadcasting,fired,radiofalse12fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/01-blood-on-the-floor--59003373https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59003373Mon, 11 Mar 2024 14:54:28 +0000Jim PolingAmerica's very first Space Shuttle, the Columbia, was on the pad and ready for launch. But on my way to cover this historic event, a not-so-historic bit of road rage nearly derailed me.728roadrage,shuttle,spacefalse11fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/introduction--58981717My View from the Middle.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58981717Sat, 09 Mar 2024 13:08:16 +0000Jim PolingHave you ever been put in the middle of things?  Clowns to the left of you, jokers to the right as the song goes?  Well, I have.  Listen to this short episode to hear what I mean by "In the Middle".  I think you'll enjoy and appreciate My View from...My View from the Middle.]]>215falsebonus