Lois Richter’s format for That’s Life is mostly interviews. Recurring topics include Davis activities and groups; work and life choices; philosophy and theory; plus birding, cooking, art, and other passions. Lois occasionally breaks into music — from ballads to the slack key sounds of Hawaii to golden oldies rock 'n' roll — but mostly there is just talk.
To suggest a topic for discussion or a person to interview, text Lois or leave a message in the comments here.
Lois seldom (but occasionally) updates her other website. Check it out at https://BirdingWithLois.global
Podcast
Replay of That's Life for Jazz and Its Cousins (4/11/2024)Tue, 09/15/2026 - 12:48pm | Ned
What's related to what? It's complicated. Producing the KDRT radio progam "Jazz After Dark", our own Don Shor knows a lot about jazz and its roots. Also about some of the spin-offs that have happened over time. But after talking to him today Lois came away a little dizzy. It seems that each individual jazz player/ singer/ artist can add whatever flavor they want to their improv in the middle of a jazz performance. A little of this and a bit of that are just fine on a jazz record. On the other hand, performers in other genres can "jazz it up" and slide their sounds over into jazz -- either by intent or by chance. Ancestors or antecedents, some "cousins" of jazz have strong lines thru the jazz genre, while others derive from the parents of jazz. Did I mention that jazz has LOTS of parents? Don explains all this better than I can, so listen to the show to find out more about your jazzy family tree. |
Replay of That's Life with Tamra Pica and TECH (May 2025)Wed, 09/09/2026 - 8:38am | Ned
Today on That's Life: talking tech with Tamra Pica. Tamra and Lois talk about tech every Thursday evening on the video show "The Rundown" with David Paskin and others. To hear THAT, go to TheRundown.show and follow the link. But that's then and this is now. Tamra Pica agreed to be on Lois' radio show to talk about non-tech things; but we slipped and fell into tech talk as well. **Sigh.** So here is the first hour of our chatting together. (There may be more later!) Enjoy! |
Replay of Corky Quirk: "Bats in your Belfry ... I mean Bypass" from 6/8/17 TLWed, 09/02/2026 - 10:46am | Lois RichterYolo Basin Foundation's bat expert Corky Quirk know a LOT about the "Bats in our Bypass"! And she freely shared her knowledge and fascinating stories about this non-rodent population. Yep. That's right. Bats are NOT rodents! Even though the German word for them (fledermaus) literally means 'flying mouse', they aren't. |
2026-08-25: Replay of That's Life with Heidi Pidcoke (2024)Tue, 08/18/2026 - 10:08am | Lois Richter
Heidi Pidcoke. A Quaker, psychotherapist, teacher, and ... In all, a very interesting person.
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2026-08-18: Replay of That's Life with Ray Maxwell (2022)Tue, 08/18/2026 - 10:01am | Lois RichterRay Maxwell is a fascinating man. He has done so many wonderful things, we'd need a month to even summarize them! In this episode we touch on a few -- hot air ballooning, finding minerals by looking at vegetation from space, how wind moves over mountain peaks and what those aerial waves and ridges can be used for, changes in vision after cataract surgery, setting up a studio, teaching people to fly (motor planes, gliders, remote control planes, and drones), Vancouver BC Canada, lots of tech, and philosophy. Although Lois and Ray met thru Office Hours, Ray has many other years of broadcast experience -- radio, tv, podcasting, web streaming, and Youtube. You can see his face online at: Maxwell's House -- "Stop by the house of polymath Ray Maxwell and see what he's investigating today. Ray is a teacher, color scientist, pilot, photographer, Photoshop wizard and raconteur who each week takes on different real-world applications of complex scientific notions." |
2026-08-11: Replay of That's Life with David Hosley (2021)Tue, 08/11/2026 - 11:00pm | Lois RichterDavid Hosley had led a very full life. Lois could have interviewed him about many many different things and filled up a show -- his long media career (starting at age 12!), being a renowned investigative reporter, teaching at various colleges and universities, UC administration, managing LOTS of radio and tv stations, producing six documentaries, training journalists in ethics, heading non-profits, talking about the history of migration into California and the challenges of life in the San Joaquin valley, and sharing thoughts on community, economy, social assumptions, and why people work after retirement. As I say, we COULD have filled up an hour on any of those. Instead, because we met working together on a project of the Davis Genealogy Club, we started with family history and went from there. So how do I know all those other things about David Hosley? We actually touch on them all during this show! Jam-packed and fully loaded, this episode is definitely a keeper. |
2026-08-04: Replay of That's Life with James Galway's Flute MusicTue, 08/04/2026 - 2:57pm | Lois RichterLois recently discovered the beautiful music of James Galway and is eager to share it with you. Hope you enjoy this flute music. |
2026-07-28: Replay of That's John McNerney, Talkin' TurkeyTue, 07/28/2026 - 11:10am | Lois RichterDavis employs a wildlife biologist named John McNerney to oversee all things natural in the City. John has been on the show several times (all archived for your listening pleasure!). This time our discussion focussed on the turkeys and other 'wild' animals in the City and what people should or should NOT do in their interactions. Although I hope you will listen to this entire episode; here's the main point Lois got from it -- DO NOT leave out food where the rats, turkeys, squirrels, skunks, opposums, or other animals can get to it. That includes remnants of cat and dog food, as well as intentionally feeding them. Wild animals that become 'habituated' to people can cause problems. Ah, you might say, but what about the little birds? |
2026-07-21: Replay of That's Beth Post, Hawaiian Cultural Ambassador (10/25/2018)Tue, 07/21/2026 - 11:06am | Lois RichterKDRT's Hawaiian expert Beth Post is today's guest. Her radio show "Na Mele O Hawaii" is one of the most popular on this station! And the story of how it came to be and what changes it has made in her family's is fascinating. |
2026-07-14: Replay of That's "Scratchboarding" with Ann Ranlett (9/13/2018)Tue, 07/14/2026 - 7:50pm | Lois RichterAnn Ranlett is an artist. A SCRATCHBOARD artist. What's that, you say? Listen to today's show and find out! Lois found Ann while researching a 'drawing' to be donated to the Friends of Art for their auction at the Yolo County Fair. (Anyone know a local artist named "H. Friend" who was been making things in 1972?) Once Lois figuring out this was not a drawing, but actually a scratchboard; she tried to find a gathering place of such folks to see if anyone know more about artist Friend. Although she ddi find the group, alas, no one knew that artist. |
Comments
I love listening to your Hawaiian music choices and your comments on Hawaii when you play Hawaiian music. :-)
-- Arielle
I forgot about all this great music...thanks for reminding me.
Great show! Never knew so much about green building...great guest. [Casa Verde]
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