“Being There: Stories from the Road Where We Keep the Rubber Side Down”
John McCalmont
Publishing Details
About This Podcast
There’s a difference between passing through… and truly being there.
Being There is a collection of true motorcycle journeys written by my father — stories of open highways, small towns, long miles, unexpected detours, and the kind of moments you only find when you slow down enough to notice them.
My father passed away many years ago.
But through these writings, his voice still rides.
In each episode, I read one of his stories from the road — just as he wrote it — and then I share a personal reflection at the end. What it means to me now. What I hear differently as a son. What time and miles have taught me since he first put those words on paper.
These aren’t just ride logs.
They’re lessons in presence. In freedom. In risk. In faith. In keeping the rubber side down — on the bike and in life.
Ride safe. Be present.
And keep the rubber side down.
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Recent Episodes
S1E17 Reflections of You
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Being There, I read “Reflections of You,” written by my father, Gene McCalmont, in 2004.While sitting outside a coffee shop in Fredericksburg, Texas, Dad becomes…
S1E16 A Fallen Soldier
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Being There, I read “A Fallen Soldier,” written by my father, Gene McCalmont, on April 30, 2004.As the Iraq War dominated the headlines, Dad found himself…
S1E15 What Do You Think About This?
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Being There, I read “What Do You Think About This?”, written by my father, Gene McCalmont, in 2004.Set in the old rail yard of Chama, New Mexico, the story follows…
S1E14 Tres Cervezas
Send us Fan MailThis week on Being There, I read “Tres Cervezas,” a story written by my father, about a motorcycle trip into Big Bend country in 1967.Three young riders. Old motorcycles. No money. No…
S1E13 Who let the dogs out?
Send us Fan MailOnly mad dogs and Englishmen go out into the midday sun, but it is here that one often finds that moment of truth when he is reminded of his own mortality and the limits of time. It…
S1E12 Jalapeno Jelly
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Being There, I read “Jalapeño Jelly,” a deeply reflective piece written by my father, Gene McCalmont, during a particularly difficult season in 2003.Set against a…
S1E11 That’s gotta hurt
Send us Fan MailA moment’s inattention is all it takes to ruin a perfectly good day. No matter how much he knows about riding, the author admits to forgetting the basics from time to time.
S1E10 My Everything
Send us Fan MailMy Everything was written in March of 2003 as a story to commemorate the author’s 35th wedding anniversary. It was inspired by a chance encounter with a redheaded beauty at Coopers in…
S1E9 The Letter
Send us Fan MailIn the 60s, life was never certain. The Vietnam War, motorcycles, and living life fast dominated everything. The author remembers how reality appeared in his mailbox one summer’s day…
S1E8 My First
Send us Fan MailTitle: My First Author: Gene McCalmontThe first motorcycle the author ever rode, at least for more than a block, was in 1966. Back then, there were no riding lessons other than what…
S1E7 Winter’s Morose
Send us Fan MailTitle: Winter’s MoroseAuthor: Gene McCalmontIn the theater of the mind, the author relives past adventures and envisions the day when he will again ride the grandeur of the Big Bend.
S1E6 Garage Time
Send us Fan MailSometimes, the ride is just an excuse to hangout with friends. In this story, the author explores the nature of a long-standing friendship and the unspoken words between two men who…
S1E5 Familiar Places
Send us Fan MailA familiar road.A familiar Ducati.A stranger on a bench who didn’t feel like a stranger at all.“Familiar Places” is about how motorcycles open doors to connection — and how sometimes…
S1E4 A Young Beauty
Send us Fan MailYou’re never too old.Too married.Or too “mature” to make a fool of yourself.A Hill Country stop, a bag of ice, and a moment of questionable judgment…“A Young Beauty” is live now.This…
S1E3 It’s Full of Stars
Send us Fan MailIn 1993, my dad and I rode to West Texas on a motorcycle trip that changed more than we realized.That night at McDonald Observatory, he looked through a telescope and saw the light of…
S1E1 Turning 50
Send us Fan MailOriginally written by Gene McCalmont and first published in 1996, Turning 50 is a high-octane reflection on what it means to cross a life milestone without surrendering the passion…
S1E2 Come run with me!
Send us Fan MailA winter ride through the Texas Hill Country.An unexpected run with a young deer.For two miles, youth and experience moved side by side on an empty road.“Come Run with Me”— one of my…
Frequently Asked Questions
“Being There: Stories from the Road Where We Keep the Rubber Side Down” has published 17 episodes since February 2026, covering topics in Places & Travel, Society & Culture.
“Being There: Stories from the Road Where We Keep the Rubber Side Down” is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 10m.
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