2 Degrees of Bob
Bob Makela
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About This Podcast
A podcast to remember, reconnect & renew.
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Recent Episodes
Episode 19 — Friends & Family FRIDAY — The Gong Show
It's been nearly 50 years since I was lead singer of the band that was called by Chuck Barris "maybe the worst act we've ever had on The Gong Show." This podcast is an attempt to heal the scars. But,…
Episode 18 — Road Trip TUESDAY — Biking Across America (Part 1: Leroy From Plains)
Forty summers ago I took a solo mountain bike trip from Manhattan Beach, CA to Boston, MA. A couple weeks into my adventure — on an empty two-lane highway in rural eastern Colorado — I met a fellow…
Episode 17 — Flashback SATURDAY — Tiger Woods
In the summer of 2000, Tiger Woods was in the midst of one of the greatest runs in the history of sports, let alone golf. Days after winning the Canadian Open — after making one of the greatest shots…
Episode 16 — Working Man WEDNESDAY — BobCab (Part 1: UT Brooke & Her NYC Friends)
Nearly 16 years ago — in the days before Uber and Lyft — a documentary dream assignment of mine fell through two weeks after I'd moved to Texas to be with Molly, so I ended up getting a job driving a…
Episode 15 — SUNDAY School — Mike Mason
In honor of Super Bowl Sunday, we're posting this conversation with our old SAE fraternity brother, who tells us how a highly-recruited kid from Michigan turned down the legendary Bo Schembechler to…
Episode 14 — Green Thumbs THURSDAY — Joe Masi (Part 1: All About Bob)
Nearly 10 years ago, Joe Masi was looking to do something every day that scared him. After Molly showed me a video he posted on Facebook in which he was singing on the subway—which had always…
Episode 13 — My Town MONDAY — Bryan Lawhorn
Bryan Lawhorn is a man of many talents. Not only is he a talented musician, music producer and master storyteller, but he's also one of Elgin's favorite real estate agents and an excellent source for…
Episode 12 — Working Man WEDNESDAY — Mr. Makela
After half a year away from the podcast mic, your host shows up to explain where the heck he's been for the last 6 months. FEEDBACK? CLICK HERE
Episode 11 — Working Man WEDNESDAY — Frank Castillo
Before he became an award-winning standup comedian, Frank Castillo was a high school student in Mr. Bob's social science class in Temecula, CA. Instead of ridiculing his substitute teacher, Frank…
Episode 10 — Road Trip TUESDAY — Alwin de Jonge
I picked up today's guest hitchhiking on a lonely, dark road one night in southern Oregon back in October of 1997. Alwin de Jonge was a 21-year-old from Holland who loved Clint Eastwood movies and…
Episode 9 — My Town MONDAY — Rick Nalle
Molly's Philly-raised Uncle Rick moved to Elgin, Texas, 50 years ago without a plan. Luckily, the man can spin a yarn.FEEDBACK? CLICK HERE
Episode 8 — SUNDAY School — Ernie Makela
I was a 27-year-old magazine writer living in Manhattan Beach, CA, looking to do some volunteer work with kids, when I was introduced to a bright, hilarious 9-year-old who'd been dumped at the…
Episode 7 — Flashback SATURDAY — Kieran Culkin
When not talking Succession and cats, I get to tell our guest about the time we left his brother home alone at our house in Austin. FEEDBACK? CLICK HERE
Episode 6 — Friends & Family FRIDAY — Judy Benoit (my Mom)
A little mother/son bonding to kick off Friends & Family FRIDAY. Where it all began.And for those wishing to send Mama Judy a birthday card — or just a note of encouragement — her mailing…
Episode 5 — Green Thumbs THURSDAY — Fred Winkler
It's been about 7 years since I recorded this conversation with Green Thumbs star Fred at our dining room table in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Talking fine dining at Estela, future projects, cutting his…
Episode 4 — Working Man WEDNESDAY — Larry Zeno
According to my first AI-generated post-Zoom podcast summary: "Bob and Larry discussed technical difficulties, personal experiences, and shared interests during their meeting. They explored topics…
Episode 3 — Road Trip TUESDAY — Brother Deke & Josh Makela
In the summer of 2013, I walked 500 miles across Spain with my brother and my nephew on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. This is a revisit and a reposting of the My Camino podcast we did with Dan…
Episode 2 — My Town MONDAY — Todd Kassens
I listen to stories from the lead guitarist of Shoulders, the band my wife LOVED in the '90s when she was living in Austin and studying acting at UT.FEEDBACK? CLICK HERE
Episode 1 — SUNDAY School — Molly Owen
I try to explain to my wife exactly what I want to do here.FEEDBACK? CLICK HERE
Frequently Asked Questions
2 Degrees of Bob has published 19 episodes since July 2025, covering topics in Personal Journals, Society & Culture.
2 Degrees of Bob is currently declining with new episodes every few days. Average episode length is 59m.
