In our large group of friendly, outgoing people, Jeffy K is truly a standout. This 2006 alum sits down with us today to talk about his journey from Western Massachusetts to Syracuse, then his roles at The Travel Channel, PBS, and AARP. And you'll love how he and classmate T.J. Basalla still manage to endlessly needle each other, 17 years after graduating.
Jeff actually planned on going to Boston University, until he saw the Syracuse campus and fell in love. And it was at an accepted students day in the Carrier Dome that he found out about Z89, from a well-known 2002 alum, Brett Bosse.
Upon his arrival on campus, Jeff immediately found the radio station, where he was greeted by Josh Wolff. Soon, he had an overnight shift. But Jeffy's real passion was the Z Morning Zoo - a place to try test his comedy chops and see how far they could go with different bits. He even tells the story of a bit they did with Jason Benetti, then a sports guy, who has gone on to great success in the industry.
Following a radio internship, Jeff realized he didn't want to pursue this as a career. So he followed his passions for travel and marketing, and got his masters degree in international marketing from St. Joe's. But it was Syracuse connections that would land him jobs after that.
Jeff spent several years at the Travel Channel in the late 2000's, helping mold their social media strategy, and working on well-known shows like Man vs. Food. From there, he went to PBS distribution, where he had to navigate international copyright laws to make sure the smash hit Downton Abbey was released to many different countries on time.
Now, Jeff is at AARP, which might surprise you for a not-yet-40 year old. However, he leverages all of his marketing experience to work for their rewards program, which is open to all ages. They are doing something better than radio is. They realize their population is aging, so they are recruiting younger.
There are countless inside jokes among various classmates in our vast group. But there may not be anything like the tormented relationship between Jeffy K and T.J. Basalla. We get just a small sample of the ways they continue to torture each other, a decade and a half later.
But it's not all ball-busting. Sitting near the mid-point of the 50 year history of the station, he talks about real relationships he's built with older alumni (Scott MacFarlane, Mary Mancini, Chris Velardi), but also younger ones (Jeff Kurkjian, Eva Zymaris, Corey Crockett).
We wrap up by asking Jeff if the rumor is true - is he really the heir to the Friendly's ice cream fortune?
The WJPZ at 50 Podcast Series is produced by Jon Gay, Class of 2002, and his podcast production agency, JAG in Detroit Podcasts.
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JAG: Welcome to WJPZ at 50. I am Jon Jag Gay. I'm joined today by Jeffy K from the Class of 2006. I'm not even gonna try to pronounce your last name. Welcome sir.
Jeffy K: Thank you buddy. I appreciate you having me. It's Kaczmarczyk for those you know, interested in the official pronunciation. But no, thank you for having me.
It's a pleasure to be on here. First Jag, I wanna say you've been doing an awesome job with this series. A lot of great episodes, a lot of great stories getting. And especially the breadth of generations sharing their stories has been amazing to hear. And then I also wanna say for the listeners, if you haven't listened to Jag's other podcast, Crazy Radio Stories, I highly recommend checking out.
I believe it's the third episode down. With the Alicia Clark story, if you will. It is maybe the 10 greatest minutes of podcasting out there. So if you haven't listened to it yet, I highly recommend after you listen to this, go check that out. Y
JAG: Your check is in the mail, sir.
Jeffy K: Excellent. Excellent.
JAG: Let's start at the beginning. Jeffy K. Western Massachusetts. How do you get to Syracuse?
Jeffy K: Funny enough, I was thinking about this today too. I grew up watching Brian Lapis as my local weatherman. Yeah. Which is just bizarro in itself. And I fanboyed out on him a little bit at my first banquet as a freshman. So yes, Western Mass connection never fails.
But anyways, I knew I always wanted to do something within communications media in that realm, but really also combine my passions of comedy and performance and music. So radio just seemed like a natural fit, right? You get the best of both worlds. And I was dead set. I was going to Boston University in high school. Like it was BU or bust and you could not convince me otherwise at all.
JAG: Go terriers. I was this close to going to BU in the end I was down the BU in Syracuse the same way. Okay.
Jeffy K: I was dead set that's where I was going and I took a visit to campus and when the only thing that I enjoyed about it, and this will become as a surprise to no one. There was a Taco Bell in the bottom of a freshman residence hall. I was like we really need to figure something else out. I just did not see myself there.
JAG: For those who don't know, and those who haven't been to the Boston University campus, your "campus" is Commonwealth Avenue Boston, and Fenway Park is next door, which is cool.
But aside from that, you're just in the city.
Jeffy K: And look, JAG, you could take the T up to the Malden Valley Forum if you really wanted. Because there's not enough Malden Mass references in this podcast.
JAG: You've listened to the Steve Donovan episode, haven't you?
Jeffy K: That's right. So I knew that wasn't gonna be an option after I visited. And Syracuse was suggested to me. I really had no idea about the school really to begin with, to be honest with you. And, went for the tour, fell in love. I famously remember my father saying, boy, we're gonna be driving up, I 90 quite a bit these next four years. And then we go to a accepted students day, my senior year of high school, and I remember Z was bumping in the Dome during this lunch thing, and so I said, I better go check this out.
Here's the wild thing, JAG, on that day, now knowing him and his mannerisms, how he talks and his fashion sense, I am about 70% sure that I spoke to Brett Bosse on that day. Again, I can't confirm or deny it, but just now knowing him and remembering that day, it just fits the bill. And so I chatted with possibly Bosse for about five minutes just about the radio station.
And, I really found it something I wanted to do once I got to Syracuse. Fast forward to fall of that year. It's literally my first week on campus. And as soon as I get done with all my, here's your class schedule, meet with your advisor. I literally walked over to the radio station and just literally walked in the door and who was standing there, but none other than the Wolffdog, Josh Wolff.
And I said, hey, I'm Jeff. I'm a freshman. I would love to be a part of this station. Literally, what can I do? And of course I got a sir, you know from Josh, right? Yeah, exactly. Hey, can you come in later this week to, learn a board off shift. Okay. Yep. In that week, shadow a jock, do a board op shift.
How'd it go? Oh, it went great. Okay. You want a Friday night, Saturday morning on air shift. Aand this is literally the first week of school. So you know, you hear about people who were there from day one. Like I was literally there from day one. My freshman year.
JAG: Was it the Saturday morning, six to nine, Jeff? Or was it earlier than that?
Jeffy K: I think it was the Friday night, Saturday morning, like two to four. There was a mix show right beforehand. And I remember it was just like bumping in the studio, to like reggaeton and some really high energy dance music, and then I came on.
So just really softened the mood. So yeah, did that for a semester and I really had my eyes set on the morning show. And so the next semester I got put on a Z Morning Zoo. Did that for a semester with a crew of guys. And then the next year, and then for the next three years, I did the morning show, got to be the morning show producer.
My sophomore year was on the board. Then took a little break cuz I, I was involved with a lot of stuff on campus, so just did the Zoo and active at the station junior year and then senior year came back and was zoo producer once again. Just really had a great run, during the morning show for those three years. It was fantastic.
JAG: You've mentioned some of the people that were there when you first got to the station. Who were some of the people that you quickly connected with when you worked there during your four years there, Jeff?
Jeffy K: The funny part, Jag, is the one staple I had in the morning show for those three years was a buddy of mine who ended up going to Syracuse from my hometown. He's now a professor of natural sciences at the University of Minnesota.
JAG: Wow.
Jeffy K: Yeah. And knows nothing about pop culture, music, radio, anything. So he was the perfect morning show companion to bounce stuff off of. It was sensational, so it was me and him for three years amongst the rotating kids.
JAG: You wanna shout him out?
Jeffy K: Oh yeah. His name's Andrew Haveles. He was Haveles on the air. Who knows if he'll ever listen to this. If he's not busy digging his head in some cave somewhere. But yeah, it was three years was me and him with a rotating cast of characters. We had of course the famous Deaf Geoff. Of course was running the show and he's just the legend in and of himself.
And then of course you had TJ Basalla, Kevin Rich, those guys, Ralphie was in the mix. And of course let's not forget Dave McKinley, who was a great PD as well. Shout out to Dave. Who really had a good run of, just good jock flow and operations. So it was just a great time to be at the station.
JAG: Any significant moments or events from your time there in the station's history you can remember from that time Jeff?
Jeffy K: I think the funniest thing for me is that, I was always thinking of doing bits on the morning show. What kind of crazy shit? We can swear, right?
JAG: Yes.
Jeffy K: What kind of crazy shit can we do and get away with? And that's gonna be like appropriate. So I had this idea of let's play orange juice pong one more and we're gonna run this tournament. You have professional play-by-play callers, calling, literally calling the shots of me and Haveles and whoever else wanted to come in. And what's cool is, you have news and sports guys that pop into your morning show, right?
And some are down to do bits. So I asked one of these guys, I said, hey, this is such a stupid idea, but we're gonna do orange juice pong. Would you be willing to do a play-by-play with this other guy and literally call it shot for shot? Yeah, sure. That guy is Jason Benetti, who is now the on-Air Voice of the Chicago White Sox.
JAG: Oh my gosh.
Jeffy K: And also on Fox Sports. And just has this esteemed broadcasting career in sports. One of the nicest guys you'll ever meet, but there is audio of this man in his early days calling me, doing frustrated shots into orange juice pong on Z89. It's just amazing to think of. You hear of like when Michael Keaton, before he started, he was a PA on Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. It's like that kind of caliber where this esteemed broadcaster was literally watching me get frustrated trying to land a ping pong ball and a cup of orange juice.
JAG: It is so funny because that is a through line, and you've heard a lot of episodes of the podcast, I know Jeff. Of the 50 years of this radio station of humble beginnings and walking in as a freshman or doing some Cray-Z morning show, Z Morning Zoo stuff, and then going on to great heights in this industry, and I love hearing stories like that.
Jeffy K: You think about this as well, like Scott MacFarlane. We live in the DC area. And before he came to CBS, he was our local, news guy on the I-team. So here we are, like every morning as I'm getting my kids ready to school here, pops up, Scott with the next I-team report. You know about, oh, the speed cameras in Montgomery County, Maryland, and but it's Scotty, my wife is still like starstruck by, half the people in the association who are public facing and thinks it's so cool that you know this guy, you know that guy. And to think that again, Scott was on a billboard at a local metro station and I famously defamed him at Tyson's Corner. Sorry Scott.
JAG: Wait, how did you do that?
Jeffy K: They literally just had billboards up and I took a picture with him and Scott and then I drew on it afterwards, and we'll leave it at that.
JAG: You drew on the picture, not the actual billboard. Let me make that clear, correct?
Jeffy K: Yes, correct.
JAG: All right. You mentioned your wife Marissa, and Marissa is one of the top A list. JPZ spouses in our group.
Jeffy K: I appreciate that.
JAG: There are some spouses who come to the Banquet once and they're like, okay, you know what? You hang out with your college buddies and have fun. This is not for me. There's a lot of personality in that room. There's a lot to it. Yeah. And there are some who come once every few years or so, and then there are some who come and they're just instantly part of the group. And I feel that way about Marissa. She just took to the group. What was that like for her? I don't want, as much as you can speak for her.
Jeffy K: Yeah, sure. No, and I appreciate that and I can tell you Jag honestly, that she loves the Z89 crew and always speaks very highly of several of the people that she knows personally and has met and just, thinks very highly of.
Again, like she didn't go to Syracuse. She has no affiliation with the school. She's a teacher, so not even any interest in the business or the networking aspect. She went to just see what it's like because clearly, it's a part of my life and I've talked about it. And Everybody knows all the great connections that are made through Banquet.
She's just been really happy to be supportive of that. Again, sitting through the actual Banquet program may not be her favorite part in, wait, why is this man rambling on about stations in North Carolina and what is this all about? We may not get that part, but it's, I remember too, there was one Banquet where Dion Summers was there.
Here we go, talking about Baltimore sports and Baltimore Ravens. But then she gets into, like what Dion has done in his career. And it's just so blown away by everything that man has done. To her it's wow, like here's another Ravens fan. Or Go O's. So it's funny, but again, she fanboys out on Scotty, she fanboys out on other people in the organization and again thinks it's so cool that we have this whole network, cast, of characters that are just doing really big things.
JAG: She's in good company. I think I've mentioned this before in the podcast. I think the first time that I brought my wife Ellen, to the Banquet Scotty MacFarlane was either keynoting or he was getting his Hall of Fame induction, I forget which. And she was like, wow, that guy is really impressive.
And then like she started talking to him. He's like the nicest, most down earth guy on the planet. So it's certainly a common thread.
Jeffy K: And Ellen's great too. We love Ellen.
JAG: All right. We're gonna come back to a lot of these relationships here in a moment, Jeff, but take me first through your career arc since Syracuse and some of the stuff you've done.
Jeffy K: Sure. So first what I'll say is I think the really pivotal thing for me in my career arc was during my sophomore year, I had an internship at WXLO. In many thanks to Peterman and Steve Donovan. And I wanna make this very clear. I am extremely thankful for that opportunity. And really enjoyed my time doing the internship at that station.
But that was really the true moment where I realized I did not wanna do radio as a full-time career.
JAG: You're so much smart smarter than so many of us. Anyway, go ahead.
Jeffy K: But I think that's important because doing radio, for a couple hours a week or at the station as a hobby is very different than doing it full-time as your professional career.
That's your source of income, and for me, my other big passion is you, as you well know, is travel and just the global community. And so I knew that doing local radio was probably not gonna allow me to do that in some capacity. And then just, at Z89, look, we know there's selector and rules and all these things.
Jag, I can't tell you how many times I broke the rules at that station. You can't get away with that necessarily in a professional radio environment and for a 20 year old kid, that's a hard thing to grasp is that this is not what the professional world is gonna be like once you get out in that.
And I realized that quickly. So I knew I needed to find another outlet for me that wasn't gonna be radio driven. Thankfully I wasn't in Newhouse. I wasn't trying to be a broadcast journalism major, where I wanted to do news or sports. I had gone in with this morning show mentality and then it turned into wow, I like the creative aspects of that.
Where can I apply that? So I really turned my attention to marketing. And to the business side of things. And so I actually ended up going to grad school, once I graduated, at St. Joe's in Philadelphia. Got a master's degree in international marketing, and that kind of opened the door for me to start at Travel Channel through another Syracuse Connection. I started as the executive assistant to the chief marketing officer.
JAG: Wow.
Jeffy K: And spend a good run there. What's wild to think about is at the time, this was when Facebook and Twitter were really starting their "presence." And so I really helped our agency launch these social media presences for a lot of our shows at the time.
So when you think about it again now, it's such a common part of any kind of marketing strategy. This was all new and cutting edge. And here's this young 20 something year old kid who understands the Facebook and the Twitter.
JAG: In the late two thousands, right?
Jeffy K: Late two thousands. Yeah, it was awesome. And then, as the cable industry goes, there's all kinds of shifts and changes. I get let go, but I now have this background working in entertainment. After that, again, through another Syracuse connection, I ended up getting a job at PBS distribution. And spent eight years there really launching their digital distribution business for video.
And again, it's wild to think about now, but this was when Netflix had just really started to amp up streaming. And iTunes and Amazon were, still the big players and, buying content to own in that space. And, ended up working there for eight years, launched some channels on Amazon Prime and really, got PBS content out there in the digital distribution world.
And again, it's all marketing, it's all content based. And then ended up finding this opportunity at AARP to help run their loyalty program, which is what I do now. And again, it's all content marketing definitely for a different audience and definitely an American organization. But again, learning the skills and analytics and all the tools you need now as a marketer is something that I really enjoy.
Don't get me wrong, I still love travel and I still love the global industry and always thinking about how I can work in that space. But also, Jag, I have a family now. I have a mortgage now. So the flexibility may not be there as it once was, but that's okay.
JAG: Let me come back to AARP in a minute.
I'll put a pin in that and I'll use an awful corporate term there. But what are some of the shows that you worked on working at Travel Channel and at PBS? Cuz you've worked on some really big name shows.
Jeffy K: Yeah, absolutely. One little show that I helped work on was Man versus Food, way back in the day.
The start of old Adam Richman's career. And again, just, thinking about how is this concept of here's a man, just hammering down pounds and pounds of food in these challenges. Is that gonna translate with audiences? But it comes back to content talent because he is so charismatic, he's so captivating.
Like you wanted to watch him eat these massive amounts of food. And then also again, really explore a lot of the places that he was going to.
JAG: Do you have a favorite episode of Man Versus Food, Jeff? One that sticks out to you?
Jeffy K: You know what? They actually shot one in Syracuse. Of course they did Dinosaur Barbecue.
But the challenge was that Mother's Cupboard, which was a great breakfast spot, and he did the frittata, which is very local to the region. Actually Jag. the other one I actually really liked was Ann Arbor, Michigan. Because he had this huge nacho tower. I'm a huge nacho fan. And it was just amazing to see him take it down.
So that show, it's so funny because that show has evolved so much over the years with the host and everything, but at the time, that was like the bee's knees of Travel Channel also in the era of Anthony Bourdain, RIP. and Andrew Zimmern. So again, just like working with those shows and that talent was just an incredible opportunity.
And then at PBS....
JAG: I'm so glad you said bees knees, because if Josh Wolff is listening, we've brought it back to one of his favorite sayings. Anyway, PBS...
Jeffy K: Fella, you're the bees knees. And so at PBS you might have heard of a little show called Downton Abbey. And I like to make the joke that it pretty much paid for my wife's engagement ring.
It was just so popular. But again, at the time, the whole concept of streaming and all this stuff was and I don't wanna get into a conversation about complicated legal, international entertainment distribution rights, it's that how people get the show they want to watch, when they want to watch it, and what device and everything.
Really, it played an impact of getting that show on time to the consumers because it was so popular and it was so massive that we just had to be on the ball making sure that we had the episodes ready to go and on sale. And the campaigns that we did around them was just massive and it was a huge hit.
I did an event towards the end of the run where got to meet some of the cast members and interact with them, which was just again, a cool experience and such a timestamp of pop culture at the time, because that show is everywhere. It was just a thrill to work on that show.
JAG: All right, so AARP. You've talked about all this digital stuff, all this cutting edge stuff, being right at the forefront when Twitter and Facebook came out, and AARP has the perception, it's the American Association of Retired Persons.
Jeffy K: That's right.
JAG: But you can be in it at age 50. Now, age 50 is not as old as it used to be. What are some of the misconceptions around what you do in the organization you work with?
Jeffy K: Yeah, absolutely. I think one is, especially for the program that I would specifically work on within AARP is that anybody can join the program and be a member.
JAG: What is the program?
Jeffy K: So it's AARP Rewards. It's pretty much AARP's loyalty program that again, makes you interact with their content in the idea of preparing you for life's events as you get older. But the thing is, you can use this information at any point in your life. I'm in my late thirties and I've learned things about retirement funds and just healthy eating stuff that you may not think about at your age, but it's really useful information for, again, people even younger than 50.
And again, I think what the organization is trying to do now is really think about the future and just get younger audiences invested in AARP for when the time comes when they hit that age, or they really need more of the information. They understand the value, they understand what the organization does and how they can advocate as you get older.
JAG: You know what's interesting? AARP is doing something better than radio, and that radio's demographic is aging. And not to be crass about it, but eventually dying off and radio needs to bring in more young people. It sounds like there's a parallel there between what you're doing in your day-to-day.
Jeffy K: Yeah, and I think what's also interesting about AARP in general is most people, when they think of the organization, they think about Medicare and social security. That's what it is. And there's so much more than that. Again, from financial planning to, healthy eating. Even just making social connections as you age because it does get different, especially, as you get older.
When your life changes. Keeping up with those relationships is totally different. The AARP just tries to attract that younger audience. Again, you may not use it now, but you will later on, and that's been their big strategy. And I'll also say, without mentioning any specific names, I am the person who does get texts from, members of this group when they hit that 50 year mark and say, why the hell am I getting this mail and why am I getting this offer for AARp membership? And I'm like, we know, we know.
JAG: We don't have to mention Friedman by name.
Jeffy K: Oh, absolutely.
JAG: But that actually segues into the next thing I was gonna ask you, Jeff, which is you have such what's the word I'm looking for? You have such a big personality, and I mean that as a compliment and even in this group. And that you're so much fun to talk to and you get passionate about so many different things.
And the interplay with so many of our other alumni that I've witnessed, whether it's you and Friedman, or it's you and TJ Basalla. I was at Friedman's house for dinner one night and I brought a Michigan salad, and Friedman looks at me, he's like, you've gotta send a picture of this to Jeffy K. And I'm like, why?. You want to give the backstory on that?
Jeffy K: Oh God. Basically the bottom line is TJ Basalla is an asshole and he just tries to ruin my life at various points. And there's nothing that gets TJ Basalla off more than pissing me off.
JAG: Agreed.
Jeffy K: So if there's something that he knows that I hate or find annoying, or TJ, why are you posting about this? Why are you talking about this? He knows that sets off a nerve. And he will just run that into the ground. So that's our relationship, Jag. Like we're the best of enemies, the best of friends. I don't know what you want to call it. Somehow it works. It's wild. It's bizarre, but you love it.
JAG: So do I have the story right? When he was doing some work in Michigan, he got a Michigan salad and he just got one every single day at partly just to tweal you?.
Jeffy K: Pretty much. So yeah, he was doing work in Michigan and every day that he was there, he would on his lunch, be like, it's Michigan cherry salad time, and just post a picture of this.
It's a fucking cherry salad, right? It's literally a salad with cherries on it. I'm sure it tastes great. It does. I'm sure the cherries are fresh and delicious, but Jag, it's literally a cherry salad. I'm like, what? Why you posting this all the time? And the rest is history, because then it just becomes a thing of, oh, we got a Michigan cherry salad buddy. There's the Instagram story, there's the Snapchat oh God, like enough. And Jag, now it's darts. So now I get the darts news.
JAG: Okay, so lemme stop you there, because TJ gets very into certain things. When he's into something. Yes. He's a hundred percent all the way in.
Jeffy K: 125%.
JAG: And he loves darts. He's a big sports fan, as we all know. And he was like religiously following this professional dart league. By the way, his wife Karen says, you guys didn't warn me about this, and we said we tried. And so you took issue with him being so obsessed with this dart league in the typical TJ way. And what did he do to tweak you with that?
Jeffy K: Oh my birthday last year, I just get a text message on my phone. From this I don't know the guy's name, but basically he's the equivalent of the let's get ready to rumble guy. But for darts, right? He is that man. And so I opened up my phone and I get this, Jeffrey K, it's so and so from the Darts League.
Happy birthday. I'm like, what are we doing here? What are we doing here? And I'm like, this poor man, recorded a very nice, honestly, birthday message for me, knowing that all this is just a way for a buddy of mine to absolutely piss me off and get under my skin. And again, that's the relationship that we have Jag, and it's probably like the only relationship like that within this entire alumni association.
JAG: Which is why I wanted to highlight it in this episode because TJ is very eccentric. And I say that of course, with love and all these things that he does, that you tell him you take it. And why you still tell him, I don't know. But he just gives him more ammunition to keep needling you.
Jeffy K: Oh, absolutely. But that's what it is. And of course, this is gonna come out in, in a podcast episode.
But again, it's, he just finds these little ticks, right? And he'll know when the tick gets off and takes that and runs. But let's be fair, JAG, there's a whole other side to the relationship and let's just say, I just take it to the max, right?
So how have you gotten 'em back? I'm not gonna go into the whole story about the max, but let's just say the max is something that he hates and is an inside joke. But remember that term, "to the max." so there is a Swedish burger chain called Max Burger. And so a buddy of mine who also knows TJ and knows this Bizarro relationship, he's in Sweden and he says, hey, I found all these little packets of salt and pepper that say Max on them.
So he comes home, and he brings all these packets of salt and pepper with Max, and I'm like, oh my God, this is incredible. I'm like, I can't just bomb them all at once. So you know, him and Karen move to a new house. We'll send a housewarming card. I'll stick a packet in there. One year on a holiday card, I stuck a packet to the back.
At his bachelor party. I snuck one underneath this, you know, and you just keep these little max packets popping up. And again, it's just fantastic because as mad as I get for his shit, he gets as mad for mine. That's our relationship. There's a great photo from his wedding where the cameraman said just do whatever you want. I took a bouquet of flowers and I just smacked him across the head that is captured in the photo. And if there's any sign of our relationship, that is it right there?
JAG: You mentioned bachelor parties. I won't even mention yours in New Orleans, which was probably the latest I ever stayed on Bourbon Street.
Jeffy K: I hope that horse is okay. Let's leave it at that.
JAG: We'll leave it there. But as we start to wrap up, Jeff, it really speaks to the relationships of the alumni of this radio station and what a family we are. If you're not needling, TJ, your classmate back and forth, you and Friedman are going back and forth about Gen X versus millennial.
Jeffy K: Oh God. Absolutely.
JAG: Or a brunch and avocado toast, or you name it. This is such an incredible organization. Can you speak to just what you've gotten out of it, out of the 15 or so years since you graduated?
Jeffy K: Yeah, absolutely. I think the unique thing Jag, about where I sit in the timeline, if you will, is that, and like yourself a little bit, we're in the middle. That early two thousands, mid two thousands era. And what's amazing is as much as I have good relationships with the people like Friedman and Velardi and Steve Donovan, on that, you know, nineties. Mary Mancini. Quick shout out there. I went to my only DC political campaign event when Mary Mancini was in town one year.
I felt so out of place because I am like, I am the only non-political person in this room, nor am I a Tennessee voter, nor do I have anything to do with this at all, but I love Mary, so I'll go. So that's what we do. So there's that, but just as much as you have those relationships on that end.
There's people like Jeff Kurkjian and Eva Zymaris and Corey Crockett, from that kind of other end of the spectrum who, again, much younger, have good relationships, but again, I'm like that older figure, who's been through stuff where, they can just connect with. Eva is a great example.
She ended up getting a job in the Western Mass market. So as soon as she did, she became this honorary, Western Mass alum, if you will, and we would go back and forth about, oh my God, the White Hut is gonna close and somebody's gonna buy out the Hut, right? And like real-time news from Springfield through Ava.
And she's fantastic. I helped her out with something for her wedding. Stuff like that is just great. And again, the power and impact of this organization is just so huge because it doesn't matter if it's networking or just personal advice or career advice or a food recommendation, half the time.
There's just so many people to reach out to. Here's a great example. Our mutual friend Matt DelSignore. Living in DC for a while. Him and I became, closer as friends just from, living here and another all-star wife, Cindy. Meeting her and now their kids and stuff and we go back and forth all the time about what Mayor Bow Wow Wow is up to here in DC, because you just have that connection. But also when there's great jams, like who's the first person that you think of is Matt DelSignore.
JAG: Oh yeah.
Jeffy K: He just knows. And he knows what's up. It's like awesome to have those relationships. I'll give you this fun little story too. Going back to Scotty MacFarlane. This was February of last year, and you mentioned my wife Marissa. We have become this like young family contact for Scott MacFarlane. If he ever needs like a news piece with kids that are, like in the younger age range, like we have become this go-to for a spot.
So during Covid he reached out because he was producing a kid's new show about, like quarantining at home, like for kids. And my kids and Marissa were featured on this program about life with siblings in quarantine. So last year I get a phone call. And it's Scotty.
So I pick up the phone, I'm like, to what do I owe this honor? And so he goes, hey, would Marissa be willing to speak on camera about inflation and kind of how it impacts families? And you know how the cost of goods is affecting people with like young kids. I'm like, I'll ask her. No problem.
And I will never forget this. He goes, just let her know she might get bumped. Because if Putin ends up attacking, then the story's off.
JAG: Oh geez.
Jeffy K: And later that day, sure enough. Needless to say, that story never ran.
JAG: I'll bring it full circle, when I started reaching out to folks do this podcast. The first person that said yes immediately same day was Scott MacFarlane. And he said to me, I'm not gonna get the exact words right, but it was something to the effect of, it was right after the hurricane had hit Naples in Florida. He goes, hey listen, so I'm actually at CBS today. I'm the backup anchor in case we lose our connection to Florida with all the storm stuff.
So I'm not really doing anything unless we lose our connection to Florida so I can hop on and do it. And he was the first interview that I did. That's just the kind of guy Scott is.
Jeffy K: Unbelievable.
JAG: Last question for you. You've mentioned your Western Massachusetts roots a couple of times.
Is it true that you are the heir to the Friendly's ice cream?
(pause)
Jeffy K: Unfortunately my mother got cut from Friendly's a few years ago. She spent 41 years there in incredibly and had a really good run there. And I will say it is a touchy subject within the Kaczmarczyk household about Friendly's ice cream. But I cannot deny that Jubilee roll and the peppermint Stick ice cream are two of the best treats out there.
JAG: What about a watermelon roll?
Jeffy K: I do love a watermelon roll. To bring it full circle. I would say Friendly's did have a part in paying for my education at Syracuse University.
JAG: There you go. And if it makes your mom feel better, you can tell her this story, which is that my best friend growing up switched schools after first grade and we lost touch. And my mom later on just worked part-time at Friendly's about six years later.
Jeffy K: Oh, nice.
JAG: And his parents walked in. And after six years we reconnected and have been thick as thieves ever since seventh grade. Thanks to my mom picking up a part-time job waitressing at Friendly's.
Jeffy K: All over a Conehead Sundae.
JAG: And on theme day they needed to change their name tags to be something related to the menu.
So my mom was Patty Melt.
Jeffy K: That's fantastic. That is fantastic. Friendly’s. What a western mass institution. If there ever was one other than Brian Lapis, of course.
JAG: Jeffy K, we'll leave it there. I could go with you and joke back and forth all day. Thanks for taking some time from the class of 2006. Always a pleasure my friend.
Jeffy K: JAG. Thanks buddy, appreciate it.