From Local News to Uplifting the World with Jamie Costello

Rich & Wendy 0:00
Hey, everyone is Rich Bennett. Can you believe it? The show is turning ten this year. I am so grateful for each and every one of you who've tuned in, shared an episode, or even joined the conversation over the years. You're the reason that this podcast has grown into what it is today. Together, we shared laughs, tears and moments that truly matter. So I want to thank you for being part of this journey. Let's make the next ten years even better. Coming to you from the Freedom Federal Credit Union Studios. Harford County Living presents conversations with Rich Bennett. 

Today, I'm going to get kind. 

No, no, no. The truth is. 

Rich Bennett 1:01
I am joined by my lovely sister, Robbie Burke. Today, we have a special guest on those of you here. Marilyn, I'm sure once I say the name, you're going to know who we're talking about. Those of you around the world may not know who we're talking about, so I'm going to have him tell a little bit about himself. But we have Jamie Costello on who is now doing a I guess it's a YouTube series, right? 

Jamie Costello 1:30
Anything. You want it to be rich, you will do it. I'll do card tricks to. 

Rich Bennett 1:34
Costello, your story. 

Jamie Costello 1:36
Costello, your story. Yes. 

Rich Bennett 1:39
Okay. Which. 

Jamie Costello 1:40
Yeah, my wife started a couple of years ago, and I. I saw what she was doing. I said, you know, I love what you're doing. I want to jump on board. So through a big background check. And she said, You know what? You're hired. 

Rich Bennett 1:57
Sir. So, Perry, your wife is the brains of the. 

Jamie Costello 2:01
Absolutely. The brand. Everything. She is the boss. 

Rich Bennett 2:07
So, Jamie, if you don't mind, tell everybody a little bit about yourself, especially since I got listeners everywhere. They may not know who you are. 

Jamie Costello 2:15
All right. Well, I grew up in Rosedale. My father was stationed at Fort Holly, burned down there. And it's no longer I think it's a Holabird industrial park. It's right by Jimmy's. And it's between Jimmy's Seafood and Squires. So it's right in between there. And he was in the. He was in the Army, retired as a colonel, and we lived in Rosedale, and he was stationed in Korea. And while he was over in Korea, it was just my mother and I my, my brother had gone to college at the Citadel in South Carolina. So it's just me and my mom and I used to hear the house creak, you know, make all the sounds of the in the middle of the night. What's that? What's that? And I and she said, you know what? Why don't you turn on your radio and just go up and down and that'll come, you know, you'll have the the, the stuff on the radio instead of here in the house. So, so I used to go up and I used to be at WB radio and then I go to WBEZ in Boston, I'd go to KBW in Buffalo, I'd go out to KMOX and St Louis WLS in Chicago. And I always said, I want to be in that box. And so I just loved it. I just I loved Galen from the WB. Al telling me that the schools were closed in Baltimore County. And so I just set out there and what would happen would be like if an ambulance would come down the street, 

I'd run out with my wooden spoon to report that Miss Cass had broken her ankle, falling down the stairs, and to get that reaction from adults, you know, they're like, Oh, you know, I thought, this is pretty cool. But when I went to school at Red House Run Elementary, I never said a word. And and I remember in fifth grade, my my teachers were Mr. Copeman Haber and Mr. Flournoy at Red House Run. And they said the assignment, we are going to make a speech. You have to make a speech for 3 minutes. And I came home that night and I told my mom, I'm dropping out of school in fifth grade. She go, Wait, wait, wait. So what what happened was we started I had to learn how to make a speech. Now, mind you, Rich and Robin, these kids had never heard me speak before. I never raised my hand. 

Rich Bennett 4:40
Right? 

Jamie Costello 4:41
Never went to the chalkboard. And the only people that heard my voice, my parents and my closest friends. So my mother said, Here's what I want you to do. I want you to practice standing up. Look over their heads in the middle. Look over here. Look over here, Look here, look here. And don't look at their in their eyes. Now, some people say when you give a public speech, they pretend like everybody's naked. Rich, There are some crowds. I don't even want to imagine that. So, no, I 

Rich Bennett 5:10
No. 

Jamie Costello 5:11
said, I'll look over their head. So I went after that. So I said and she said, Write about something, you know. And I said, Baseball. So I, I remember the speech. It was like, how a baseball is made, how many stitches and the rawhide and stuff. So I go to 

Rich Bennett 5:25
Wow. 

Jamie Costello 5:25
school on a Friday. I'm ready and I and I sit my, my, my seat, my seat. And I notice there's nobody with the last name ay, There's nobody with the last name be and it's me. So I stand up and I'm shaking and I'm and I start. I go in the middle. I go over here. I go over here. I go over here, here, here, here. And at the end of this, 3 minutes, the whole class who's never heard me before. A stand up, giving me a standing ovation. And I haven't shut the hell up since That just launched me into the into the path. I got into radio. In front Royal, Virginia was my first job. Then I went up to Martinsburg, West Virginia, by God. And then I went to Hagerstown and I got a job as a fill in sports guy for a legendary guy named Glenn. Pressed Graves on 25 alive. And then I saw Job opening and I said, Hey, you know what? To my boss, I'd like to do that. And he said, Are you kidding me? And I started the next day and and I worked in Hagerstown for a couple of years. And then I saw I and my mother said, It's time for you to come home. And so I started applying to all the stations down in Baltimore. And then I finally got it at WMUR, and I started there 1987, and I worked 37 years before retiring off the TV in June. And now I'm working for my wife. Oh, wait, that's a. 

Rich Bennett 7:00
Wait a minute. 

Jamie Costello 7:01
It's an elevator pitch. There you go. 

Rich Bennett 7:04
How in the world. Q You have been there for 37 years. You don't even look like you're 40 yet. 

Jamie Costello 7:11
Thank you, sir. You're very kind. Yeah. Now that. 

Rich Bennett 7:16
I did. I did realize it was 37. 

Jamie Costello 7:19
You know, it's funny, I started anchoring with Rudy Miller, and Rudy Miller told me how to drink a coffee. So. 

Rich Bennett 7:27
Oh, okay. 

Jamie Costello 7:29
Gulp after gulp after gulp. And Rudy was and she still is. We just had lunch a couple of weeks ago. She is still. 

Robyn Burke 7:38
It was great. 

Jamie Costello 7:39
I came into that wme our newsroom and I looked around and I saw Jack Bauer and I saw Suzanne White, Andy Barr, who's probably the greatest man I've ever met in the business. Andy Barr, Jack Dawson. And then and then Scott Grasso and then Keith Mills, and then Johanna. And of course, we got to wish Christie Breslin a happy birthday today. Kristy is celebrating her 

Robyn Burke 8:04
That's 

Jamie Costello 8:04
50. 

Robyn Burke 8:04
right. Happy birthday, Christy. 

Jamie Costello 8:06
So. 

Rich Bennett 8:08
Her white. 

Jamie Costello 8:09
said 55th. Just kidding. Oh. 

Rich Bennett 8:12
Oh. You see, Jamie, you're going to get me in trouble now, man. 

It was. I thought she was 20. 

Jamie Costello 8:20
She'll always be. 

Rich Bennett 8:21
Yeah. 

So, 

God with the WMr was your idea or was it already being done about? Always covering good news because you always had shared the good news story. 

Jamie Costello 8:37
It's 

it's kind of kind of went that way. Yeah. All of a sudden, you know, it was like, 

I can't explain it. It's just that the camera doesn't lie. And when you're telling good stories, it kind of clicks and resonates with people. Do we have enough good stories out there? There are. That's why we started this business, because I don't want to leave a good story on the side of the road. There are thousands of great stories of people that don't even know their story and all of a sudden you start talking to them and all of a sudden they start opening up and they give you a great story. There's one story that really resonates is name is Marcus. Have you seen the more. More pretzels, more crunch? I think they're going around. But Marcus autistic told his parents, My life's going nowhere. I have no friends. They got him involved and he took a pretzel and he added something to it. Put a little seasoning on, packaged them up, and is now on his own. Marcus More and it's more crunch, you know, stories like that. He didn't know it was a news story a year ago but now he's he's he's like. 

Rich Bennett 9:56
He's local. 

Jamie Costello 9:56
Oh, yeah, he's local. He's in Annapolis, but he's selling all over. Yeah, he's selling all over. 

Rich Bennett 10:01
Oh, wow. 

Jamie Costello 10:01
Wonderful story. Wonderful guy. He's got friends now, Rich. He's got friends now. 

Rich Bennett 10:07
Well, that's why I'm glad you started this. Well, let me rephrase that. Your wife started Castello, your story, and I just don't understand why you're the face of it, though. 

Jamie Costello 10:21
It should be your wife. 

Rich Bennett 10:22
Your wife. That's to fit. 

Jamie Costello 10:23
I know. She's much prettier than I don't. That's rich. I'm going to bring that up. You want to be the president and CEO? You can bring that up and tell. I know, but she. She got permission to use my last name, though. Oh, okay. 

Just a. 

Rich Bennett 10:42
So you just started with her. What? 

Jamie Costello 10:45
Jan Right. Jan and Rick. Wow. Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 10:49
Why? 

Jamie Costello 10:49
She's been doing stories, you know, great stories ever since. And so I just joined it and we have, we've just done a big four part series on Trade Point Atlantic and we're going to be doing something on Let's Eat. It's a mobile food pantry that goes to food deserts and all over and they collect food and take this food to those in need. We can they have been just incredible to talk to. And, you know, we're going to be doing stories on local businesses and and everything. We we're also shooting stories that people could air like, let's say, Rich Bennett fundraiser. Hey, you want to know more about Rich? Take a look at the screen behind me and then hopefully it'll generate some money and stuff like that. So we're really excited. How are you finding these? 

Rich Bennett 11:42
Finding these. 

Jamie Costello 11:42
People are just hitting us up on email. Find us on our Web site. Word of mouth. I mean, it's that's what

Robyn Burke 11:50
Plus, you know, everybody in the state, Jamie. 

Jamie Costello 11:52
I'm trying, but it's it's a lot of fun. It's a lot of fun. 

Rich Bennett 11:58
Yeah. Is there anybody in particular whose story you want to cover that hasn't reached out to you? 

Jamie Costello 12:05
I'm sure there is. I couldn't. I couldn't. You know, I used to get asked, what's the best story ever told? And I used to tell I remember going to schools and say that that question would always pop up. And I'd say, look at the clock. I say, You don't know what's coming. The greatest. Still, I always used to say the greatest story. We don't know yet. It could happen at 210 this afternoon. It could happen next month. It could happen three years from now. Yeah. And that's what kept me going. The best story you ever told is still out there. It's still coming. 

Rich Bennett 12:39
So how many episodes are you guys going to be dropping? Is it once a week or. 

Jamie Costello 12:43
Yeah. I think it's gonna be that. Yeah. Okay. Week and it's going to be about community and good story. We got a story coming up on Michael Hughes. Michael Hughes is the voice of Eastport. Eastport is right across from Annapolis and he has just been named the grand marshal of that St Patrick's Day parade. So I'm going to do a story on him. We're going to be shooting that on Monday. And that'll air real quick. So we're excited about that. 

Wow. So it's about local, local people that that are making a big difference. 

Rich Bennett 13:20
So are you are you allowed to name some of the other ones coming up? 

Jamie Costello 13:25
Or you want to wait? Let 

Rich Bennett 13:26
we? 

Jamie Costello 13:26
me ask my boss anyway. Am I allowed to name some of the others? Oh, yeah. We got a lot of behind. Who else? We've already done, you know. Oh, yeah, the ones we've already. We did a story on Mike Hankin. Who is? He's really involved in the Baltimore waterfront and he's the one that's making sure that we can jump in the Inner Harbor one of these days. And he's got a big farm and he's he restored this creek and he brings kids that have never been out the environment out to his place. And she did that story and she did a story on Rivista. This is a company that is a 

Rich Bennett 14:04
Yes. 

Jamie Costello 14:04
real real estate the doctors visit. So if you're if you're Dr. Robin and you need an office, you go to them to find the real estate and the building and all that stuff. And they had a big convention in West Palm. Two weeks ago. Yeah, two weeks ago. So she went down there and. And did a story on that. So it's. It's all over. It's. It's funny how people just come out and say, Hey, yeah, we did stuff on senior seven Leadership. It's a it's a group of professionals who are trying to guide people through their their phase of life. And we did that story. So it's it's a lot of a lot of good lot of people out there with stories that we don't even know yet. 

Rich Bennett 14:48
Yeah, that's. There's a lot of good stories out there. I just for some reason, a lot of people are nervous about telling their stories. For some reason or think they don't have a good story. 

Robyn Burke 15:01
I would say they think they don't have a good story off 

Jamie Costello 15:03
think you're right. 

Robyn Burke 15:04
then 

Jamie Costello 15:04
I think they're humble 

Robyn Burke 15:05
and. 

Jamie Costello 15:05
and yeah, they don't. 

Robyn Burke 15:06
And I talked to everybody on the plane that the stories you hear are just you know what? It all just comes up in conversation. They're not telling me to be boastful or, you know, anything like that or to think they have a story. It just comes up in conversation. It's like, Wow, that's amazing. 

Jamie Costello 15:22
Yeah. It's amazing. 

Rich Bennett 15:24
That's one of the things I've noticed since doing this. I mean, the people that come on, whether it's the picture books or their business. But then when you find out deeper inside the true person, it's amazing. 

Jamie Costello 15:39
Yeah. You find out what made them start their business. Yeah, but you know, what's the success? How scared they were to launch it. How how it's turned into a success and what advice? You know, there are a lot of people out there seeking advice. And, you know, you could say one sentence that could spur somebody on to do something, so. 

Rich Bennett 16:00
Are you guys going to keep it strictly video or are you thinking about making it into an audio podcast as well? 

Jamie Costello 16:06
I don't know yet. I don't know. I think it's just video and. Right. Yeah. Video and stuff and. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 16:13
Mainly on YouTube. 

Jamie Costello 16:15
Yeah. We've got. Yeah, that's the one we've got. I can't say cause it's a surprise to who we're interviewing, but we had a conversation last week. We're doing a story on, on someone, but 

unbelievable what this person has done in Baltimore. And I don't even know if I could say anything more than that, but we're we're ecstatic to do this this story on this man who's going to be honored. And it's it's pretty good. I mean, he's made a difference in a lot of people's lives. 

Rich Bennett 16:56
I. 

Jamie Costello 16:56
I can't wait to sit down with this guy is we're like, Whoa. I mean, he takes care of his employees. He makes sure they're taken care of. If all hell is breaking loose, he'll ask them. Robin, are you doing okay? I mean, he's that kind of guy. 

Rich Bennett 17:14
So for you, is it a big difference from being recorded now versus going live like you used to do? 

Jamie Costello 17:25
Well, the adrenaline is is not as much. But you know what? For me, when you write a sentence and it is stirring and all that is good, that there's nothing like it. There is nothing like putting a sentence on a computer and being able to deliver it. You know, sometimes the written word didn't come off that way. But when you when you write a message, a letter or a story and you know, it's got it, there's nothing better than that. So that's where I get that's where I get the juice from. It's a pretty fun. 

Rich Bennett 18:01
Now you do realize I'm going to. I can't believe I'm going to say this. No, I'm going to say. 

Jamie Costello 18:08
Yeah, go ahead. 

Rich Bennett 18:09
But now that you're working for your wife. 

Jamie Costello 18:12
Yes, sir. 

Rich Bennett 18:13
She's not going to allow you to retire until she's ready. 

Jamie Costello 18:17
No retirement. I got two small kids, so I retired anytime soon. I'm going to go, go, go, go. 

Rich Bennett 18:24
You're like me. You won't be doing this when you store it. Right? 

Jamie Costello 18:27
That's good. Yeah. What was it? Lorne Michaels is. What? How old is he? 82. Still 

Rich Bennett 18:32
Nor might. 

Jamie Costello 18:33
alive. How about that? 

Robyn Burke 18:36
I didn't realize that while. 

Jamie Costello 18:38
Paul McCartney, 83, still touring. 

Rich Bennett 18:42
Look at Mel. Mel Brooks is in his 90. 

Jamie Costello 18:44
No, no. 

Rich Bennett 18:46
He might be close to 100 now. Still doing stuff. 

Jamie Costello 18:48
Dick Van Dyke's closing. 

Rich Bennett 18:50
Yeah. 

Robyn Burke 18:50
Yes, that's another one. 

Rich Bennett 18:52
Never quit. Age is just the number. 

Jamie Costello 18:55
I got you. 

Rich Bennett 18:56
We just feel it sometimes. 

Jamie Costello 18:59
Looks like the temperature of the day. Oh, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 19:03
With coach telling your story. We know about the stories, but you guys also offer other services as well, don't you? 

Jamie Costello 19:10
Yeah, I just it's funny today. Indian Creek School in Brownsville just invited me back. Let me see here. It's April the fifth, and I get to emcee 

emcee their big gala. We did it last year, and we raised. Hold on. This is from Jenny, who is at the school. She said it's going to be Saturday, April the fifth, from 6 to 1030. It's a live auction. And so I'm going to be the auctioneer and emcee. We raised $280,000 last year and. 

Robyn Burke 19:45
Wow. 

Jamie Costello 19:46
Was nearly three times our initial goal. So they asked me to come back. So I am. I love Rich. There's nothing better. Chris Christie owns Harford County with all her absentee and I. I that's when you when it when you're an emcee for an event that's where you meet the stories people come up to you year over year cocktail you're talking what do you do Oh my God that's a stock that that's where you meet. You made the contacts there and I get to do mercy. I'm going to be the emcee at Mercy High School and also an emcee at the school out in Howard County. So that would be so that I love doing it. It's. 

Rich Bennett 20:26
Fun. 

Jamie Costello 20:26
Yeah, those things are really fun. 

Rich Bennett 20:30
You think you, a Christian, may ever do one together? 

Jamie Costello 20:32
We could. We could. 

Robyn Burke 20:34
would be fun. 

Jamie Costello 20:35
We'll do it for you. You're. You're the Bennett. The Bennett Company. 

What would it be? Yeah. We'll do something. 

Robyn Burke 20:44
We'll come up with something. 

Jamie Costello 20:45
Yeah. Come up with something. Yeah, we'll do that. 

Rich Bennett 20:48
Could do it down on the farm. 

Jamie Costello 20:49
There you go. Come on. 

Rich Bennett 20:51
Now Christie won't do it Should be too scared. 

Jamie Costello 20:55
You know what? I did not know this, but her mother was with Loehmann's furniture forever. I did not really? Yeah. And Robin, I got on the air with Loehmann's clothes that I and I remember. Megan Pringle always brings this up to me. Oh, my. She. She. She was frightened because I was going off. As in, where are we going to get our furniture from? Loehmann's is closing up. And it sat right there on Bel Air and Bel Air and. Oh, my God. Bel Air Road at. 

Robyn Burke 21:22
Silver Spring. 

Jamie Costello 21:23
Silver Spring. Right. 

Robyn Burke 21:25
Yeah, yeah, yeah. 

Jamie Costello 21:26
And I was devastated when they closed and come to find out Kristen's mom who ran the place. 

Rich Bennett 21:32
Wow. I didn't know that. 

Jamie Costello 21:33
Love that phrase. 

Robyn Burke 21:34
I didn't realize that, but yeah, that was a great furniture store. 

Jamie Costello 21:38
Oh, my God. It was great. 

Rich Bennett 21:39
So, Jamie, now that you're retired from broadcast? Well, from TV, you're not retired from broadcasting. What's it one of the biggest things you miss, especially from being behind that anchor desk? 

Jamie Costello 21:54
I miss going in when it's snowing. And doing a nine hour. We used to have a boss that would. I'm just kidding you. I don't know who's going to say. We used to be rich and Arab and we used to have to get on before the first flake dropped. And until the last flakes dropped. And that's when you learn to ad lib. You're on the air for hours and hours and hours and your luck and where's where's my backup comet? And they're stuck, you know, So, hey, gotta stay on longer. But that's when you meet the audience and that's when, you know, when you're on that long, that's when you get out of the car to drop the. Oh, we're welcome for the news. Now you're very, very you can show a little bit of yourself and that's when you connect with the audience. So I just those days are missed. 

Rich Bennett 22:48
I even think about that because it was long hours. 

Jamie Costello 22:51
I don't know the last I don't see them doing that as much anymore. But man, these. 

Robyn Burke 22:57
We don't get the snow that we used to get anymore. 

Jamie Costello 22:59
That's true. But we used to look up and 13 and 11 and 40, they're all still on. So we got to stay on. So who's like, who's going to. Who's going to drop out first? Who's going to go back to regular programming first? So it was all. 

Rich Bennett 23:12
Did they at least have a place for you to take a nap? 

Jamie Costello 23:16
Yeah, there were couches and those couches that separated. So you lay down and they separate. Your rear end would drop on the floor and you'd be trapped. Yeah. They used to have a shower. At least have a shower in the basement. Good luck with that. Woof, woof. 

I hate to think about that shower now. 

Rich Bennett 23:39
So if somebody has got a good story and they want it, come on, Castello, your story. I love the play on words. They're just. 

Jamie Costello 23:47
Tell your story. 

Rich Bennett 23:49
Two things. Number one, how do they get in touch with you guys? 

Jamie Costello 23:53
We got our website up. COSTELLO Your story dot com just hit us up there and we'll get back to you. We'll see if you're looking for video for a fundraiser to raise money. Oh, yeah. We'll do anything you want. 

Robyn Burke 24:10
Love it. 

Jamie Costello 24:11
Oh, careful what you say. Yeah, I know. Did I say that? Yeah. Yeah, we'll do. We'll do what we can to help you out. 

Rich Bennett 24:20
You also do coaching? 

Jamie Costello 24:22
Oh yeah. Yeah. Coaching for. We can coach if you if you if your company is in need of you know how to public speak out to present something, you know, we could do that. But I also coach one of the reasons I left Channel two was to coach my sons in baseball because I want to be here at 5:00. And I've been doing that for ever and ever. And Rich and Robin is the greatest thing in my life. I love coaching baseball and it's it's so rewarding and it's just and I can't we're going to start here in a couple of weeks. And it's just so now I don't have to rush home. I don't have to, you know, call somebody. I hey, can you take the kids for a minute until I get there? So there's no more of that. So it's it's yeah, that's going to be great. 

Rich Bennett 25:12
That's something I do miss. When my son was younger. I coached him. But when my younger brother was playing and my father's manager, I helped coach as well. And not just certain about baseball. I just love. 

Robyn Burke 25:28
Our dad coached baseball forever. 

Jamie Costello 25:30
Daily. Really? 

Robyn Burke 25:31
I mean, I was the only girl. I didn't get coached in anything, but just saying. There might have been favorites involved. 

Jamie Costello 25:38
What league were you, Rich? 

Rich Bennett 25:41
So originally it was just a town 

Jamie Costello 25:43
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 25:43
job, a town rec. And then my father left there, went to Essex, American Legion. 

Jamie Costello 25:50
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 25:51
It took my my younger brother and a bunch of other players. 

Robyn Burke 25:57
Well, back then, the Legion was like the club ball. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 26:01
Legion ball is the thing. 

Jamie Costello 26:02
That was it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And. 

Robyn Burke 26:05
I think it was like a Beltway league or something. 

Jamie Costello 26:07
There was the Yankee rebels. There was. 

Rich Bennett 26:10
That's. 

Jamie Costello 26:11
Party. Hill, Honey Hill. That's where Cal played. Mm hmm. Yeah. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 26:18
Yeah. We played against Billy a lot. 

Jamie Costello 26:19
Oh, yeah. There you go. 

Rich Bennett 26:21
Oh, my father loved it. He drew these kids to see good they were. He taught me a lot about baseball. One of the things he always told us, like, when certain to you hit a certain age, don't to throw different pitches because ruin your arm. I never knew that. 

Jamie Costello 26:43
Don't talk. 

Rich Bennett 26:44
And what was the other thing you used to do? 

Robyn Burke 26:47
I don't know. He never 

Rich Bennett 26:48
My brother was 

Robyn Burke 26:49
Just 

Rich Bennett 26:49
a. 

Robyn Burke 26:49
sayin. 

Rich Bennett 26:50
Not you. But he, like after a game of pitching, he would always tell the guys put I think it was horse ointment. 

Jamie Costello 26:58
Okay. All right. 

Rich Bennett 27:00
On your arm. And I said 

Robyn Burke 27:02
Or Slenderman or something 

Rich Bennett 27:03
something 

Robyn Burke 27:03
like that. 

Rich Bennett 27:04
like that. I don't know. 

Robyn Burke 27:05
Stinky. It was stinky. I do remember that stunk. 

Jamie Costello 27:09
I still play baseball today with an old timers league and we go up to Cooperstown every day the week after 

the week after Labor Day, and we play in Cooperstown. And it is and it's great. It's just great. And then the the league that I'm in, it's called GSP. And they also go to Florida. They play down there in October. I haven't been able to in a while because of work, but and they it's jut and it's like a fraternity. These guys are all we all grew up together and now we're back together and we still play. And it's just a great, great time. 

Rich Bennett 27:51
Steve Zinner in. 

Jamie Costello 27:52
Yes, it is in that. Yes, he is. Okay. Yeah, We got a bunch of Harper County guys. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 27:58
I can't do it. Nobody will run for me. 

Jamie Costello 28:00
No, you could do it. I'm telling you. If you could hit, just make connection. Just dribble the ball you're in. Yeah, it's great. Zain's a great player. Yeah, that's. I've heard. Yeah, he's in shape, so he can manage. 

Makes a big difference to their budget. Hartford County guy Frank Bertucci. 

Let's see who. I can't think of all everybody. A lot of Harford County guys, you know, used to pitch. Very. Who is a great pitcher is John Bond. Paris. Johnny Bond. 

Rich Bennett 28:34
Oh, really? 

Jamie Costello 28:35
He could throw the ball. 

Yes. Wow. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 28:42
I know my older brother when he was playing. Supposedly he was the fastest pitcher in Harford County. 

Jamie Costello 28:48
Oh, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 28:49
And he quit playing because there was somebody on the other team that teed off. And Robert, you may remember the name. I don't. And my brother threw it at him, split the helmet in half, knocked him out cold. 

Robyn Burke 29:05
Yeah, he wouldn't play after that. 

Jamie Costello 29:07
No kidding. Because he was. 

Rich Bennett 29:09
She was told to. 

Jamie Costello 29:10
Oh, man. How about that? 

Rich Bennett 29:13
It was back then. But I think baseball is like full contact. 

Jamie Costello 29:18
Right. You let it. Yeah, right. 

Rich Bennett 29:21
Yeah, I definitely miss coaching. I went we were a couple of years ago because I haven't watched baseball in years. And we went couple of years ago to iron birds. And I was lost because I know about all the rule changes. 

Robyn Burke 29:37
Lot 

Rich Bennett 29:37
Yeah. 

Robyn Burke 29:37
of rule changes. I'm going to spring training on Tuesday and watching a game. 

Jamie Costello 29:41
That is great. Good for you. There's 

Robyn Burke 29:44
Yeah, 

Jamie Costello 29:44
a lot 

Robyn Burke 29:45
I'm excited. 

Jamie Costello 29:45
of fun. 

Robyn Burke 29:46
What are you shaking your head at, Richard? 

Rich Bennett 29:48
Jamie. I certain about my sister. When it comes to sports, she doesn't have a clue. 

Jamie Costello 29:55
Oh, okay. 

Robyn Burke 29:56
I know baseball better than I know anything other than ice skating. 

Jamie Costello 30:00
There you go. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 30:01
Rob Deas You didn't know what SS and all that was. 

Robyn Burke 30:05
I'm going to spring training game. You just have. 

Jamie Costello 30:07
She's got your back when it's 30 degrees, pal. So be quiet. 

Rich Bennett 30:13
Robert, do you have any questions for Jamie before I get to the last question? 

Robyn Burke 30:17
No, it's just really been an honor to talking to you, Jamie. I love what you're doing. I've watched you since you came on air, and my youngest was like two years old and, you know, I was a stay at home mom back then and used to love watching you guys and Judy Miller and the whole, you know, Susan White, everybody. And this has just been really such an honor. And I'm looking forward to watching 

Jamie Costello 30:40
My phone. 

Robyn Burke 30:41
your show. 

Jamie Costello 30:41
I've got we've got a text almost every day with with Ghazal Mills and Joe Hammond and Mike Atherton. These guys were like and it's like, we're always connected someway. Mary Beth Mars, then Josie Sturm and. 

Robyn Burke 30:56
I'll invite Mary Beth. Forgot about her. 

Jamie Costello 30:58
Yeah, it's. And we lost him, too. And we went to. 

Robyn Burke 31:03
Yes. 

Jamie Costello 31:04
Funeral on Saturday. And. 

Robyn Burke 31:06
Ritchie's son went to school with his son. 

Jamie Costello 31:09
No kidding. Yeah. When I first started Channel two, there he was. He was. It was right there. 

Robyn Burke 31:15
He was great. 

Jamie Costello 31:17
Then they went over to Bale and became a superstar. So we're trying listen, we're trying to get a school named after him. And. 

Rich Bennett 31:24
Really? 

Jamie Costello 31:24
Really? Yeah. And I we got in touch with Bob Mosher and Anne Arundel County, and they say you have to be deceased for three years in order to get us, you know, something named after you. So let's It's like, get in the Hall of Fame. So we're not going to give up. 

Rich Bennett 31:41
Don't 

Jamie Costello 31:41
Don't 

Rich Bennett 31:41
give. 

Robyn Burke 31:41
Now, 

Jamie Costello 31:41
give up. 

Robyn Burke 31:41
wouldn't that be awesome? 

Jamie Costello 31:43
That's a great. 

Rich Bennett 31:44
Even if it's adding a wing to the score and naming the wing after him or something. 

Jamie Costello 31:49
Something absolutely much guy deserved. 

Rich Bennett 31:52
I mean, Tim Tutton was always looked for. That's what you had to watch for the scoopers. 

Jamie Costello 31:58
Is that something he stopped? Yeah, he got it going in the. 

Robyn Burke 32:00
He's a great guy. 

Rich Bennett 32:02
So, Jamie, is there anything like that before I get to the last question? 

Jamie Costello 32:05
It's is. That is great. Great to be here with you. I've known you a long time, Robyn. We interviewed you when? Back in 1800s. Something like that. Way back. Did you see 

Rich Bennett 32:17
The 

Jamie Costello 32:17
the 

Rich Bennett 32:17
1800s. 

Jamie Costello 32:17
18? Way back. 

Robyn Burke 32:19
I think it was. I think you're right. I think you're right, Jamie. It was like 1847 or something, to be exact. 

Jamie Costello 32:24
Right, right, right. 

Rich Bennett 32:27
Hey, Robin. 

Jamie Costello 32:27
Great to be with you guys, obviously, and I love what you're doing. Keep it local and keep Harlan County alive, man, please. 

Rich Bennett 32:37
I'm just glad that when you came on, you didn't bring your little rich. Like you did with the standard of life. When I saw the air was like little Richie's like little Richie that. 

It's think. Are you kidding? 

Jamie Costello 32:54
I remember that. 

Rich Bennett 32:56
But a lot of my. 

Robyn Burke 32:57
Yeah, that was fun. That was fun. 

Rich Bennett 33:00
In all honesty, Jamie, I think it was because of you. That was one of my busiest years and that was covered. 

Jamie Costello 33:07
Oh, my. How about that? 

Rich Bennett 33:08
I saw so many kids that year. 

Jamie Costello 33:11
Good. 

Rich Bennett 33:12
Because I also did it virtually. But yeah, people said that they saw you talking to us. 

Robyn Burke 33:17
There was nowhere else for them to go to see Santa. There was just nowhere else to go. 

Jamie Costello 33:21
Unbelievable. 

Rich Bennett 33:22
And that made my Christmas. 

Jamie Costello 33:23
Jeez. Hey. And I'm on Christmas. Let me give a shout. I know Melinda Craig probably watches as she is the nicest humans I. And I just want to send my my thoughts out to the Craig family. I love them. They are. They're always on Facebook. And 

David, what a human being. And. 

Robyn Burke 33:47
Yes. 

Jamie Costello 33:48
Numbers 

Robyn Burke 33:48
Agreed. 

Jamie Costello 33:48
do so much. And I know that's good stuff. 

Rich Bennett 33:53
So what is the next big thing besides Castello? Your story for Jamie Castello. 

Jamie Costello 34:01
Tomorrow. Just keep going. Just keep going. You know what? You live out 

Robyn Burke 34:05
Love 

Jamie Costello 34:05
the day 

Robyn Burke 34:06
it. 

Jamie Costello 34:06
and you started in the morning, and you just keep going. 

Tomorrow is the best day. And just keep living, living life and keep going. Hey, I made it through. Get up and go again. So love it. Spring training is coming for. 

Robyn Burke 34:21
That's great. 

Jamie Costello 34:22
Forward to that. 

Rich Bennett 34:23
I asked people that question all the time. That's the best answer I've heard yet. 

Robyn Burke 34:27
It's a good one. 

Jamie Costello 34:28
It's coming. It's coming. 

Rich Bennett 34:30
It was. 

Jamie Costello 34:30
They keep going there. 

Rich Bennett 34:32
Jamie, thanks a lot. 

Jamie Costello 34:33
Thank you, Rob. 

Robyn Burke 34:34
Thank you, Jamie. 

Jamie Costello 34:35
Safe trip down there in Florida. 

Robyn Burke 34:37
Thanks. 

Jamie Costello 34:37
You stay in. 

Robyn Burke 34:38
Thank you. Oh, I'm. I'm working, so I'm just going down for the night, going over there and then coming back the next day. That's the beauty of being a flight attendant, Jamie. 

Jamie Costello 34:49
That's good. That's good. Good for you. 

Robyn Burke 34:52
Yeah, I'm on their dime. 

Rich Bennett 34:55
Just. Just learn baseball first. 

Jamie Costello 34:57
Yeah. There you go. SS. 

Rich Bennett 34:58
Thank you for listening to the conversations with Rich Bennett. I hope you enjoy today's episode and learn something from it as I did. If you'd like to hear more conversations like this, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, I'd love if you could leave a review. It helps us reach more listeners and share more incredible stories. Don't forget to connect with us on social media or visit our website at conversations with Rich Bennett. Com for updates, giveaways and more. Until next time, take care. Be kind and keep the conversations going.