Hour 1: Remembering Jim Whittaker

The John Curley Show opens with a listener warning about a scam involving a fake border package, followed by a humorous exchange about 'donkey' and 'zebra-looking donkey' as a Philadelphia inside joke. The episode then shifts to a heartfelt tribute to Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mount Everest with a Sherpa in 1963 and founder of REI. Host John Curley reads from Whittaker’s memoir, *Life on the Edge*, highlighting his humility, lifelong commitment to risk and learning, and belief that discomfort creates meaning. Whittaker’s later life, including selling his home due to financial hardship and choosing to live on a sailboat with his family, exemplifies his philosophy of purpose over materialism. The segment closes with a powerful reading of Whittaker’s final words: 'Whatever you can do or dream, you can begin it for boldness has genius power and magic in it.' The show then transitions to a discussion with climatologist Cliff Mass, who debunks the media hype around a 'super El Niño,' explaining that forecasts are too uncertain this early in the year and that short-term temperature spikes are often due to volcanic activity, not climate change. The episode ends with a humorous story about a TV host’s controversial use of the phrase 'nut-cutting' and a failed job interview for a weatherman role based on a joke about weekend forecasts.