Ron: 0:28

Today, my friends, we go down memory lane to a time of diners and jukeboxes and a certain leather jacket wearing legend, a TV legend who happened to ride a motorcycle. Are you ready for this? Ha ha, ha, ha ha, ay cycle, are you ready for this? Recorded in beautiful Loveland, colorado. Welcome to Peace, love Moto, the podcast for motorcyclists seeking that peaceful, easy feeling as we cruise through this life together. Are you ready? Let's go. It was 1974.

Ron: 1:24

A TV show featured a motorcycle rider who proved that tough guys can have the biggest hearts. That's right. We're talking about Arthur Fonzie Fonzarelli of the iconic TV show Happy Days. Now, if you grew up in the 1970s and 80s, and even if you've caught some of the reruns, you know the Fonz. He was the epitome of cool. Yeah, he had the leather jacket, the slicked back hair and the confident swagger you might say. And of course, he rode a motorcycle, and not just any motorcycle. It was often depicted in the show as a triumph, a classic British bike that just screamed of rebellion and freedom. I have a Triumph Bonneville in the garage, which is, among other things, my distinguished gentleman's ride. I just love to go cruising on it anyway. Cool, cool bike. I may not be the coolest rider, but I'm on a cool bike, that's for sure. When Fonzie rode up in cool bike, that's for sure. When Fonzie rode up in his bike, heads would turn.

Ron: 2:29

He was the tough guy, the outsider, the guy who snapped his fingers and all the girls gathered around him and with the tap of his elbow he magically made the jukebox play. His image was true grit. You could say that I guess he was strong, he was street smart and he wasn't afraid of anything. In appearance anyway, he could handle himself in a sticky situation. Let's be honest, he probably looked cooler doing that than anything else. In Milwaukee he kind of embodied the classic motorcycle rider stereotype Independent, a bit dangerous and utterly self-assured. You wouldn't want to cross the Fonz, that's for sure.

Ron: 3:37

As we watched Happy Days spanning several years, or several seasons as they call it, the character of Fonzie evolved. And here's the beautiful paradox of Fonzie and why he resonates of Fonzie and why he resonates, I think, so much with the intentions of the Peace, love, moto podcast. Beneath that tough exterior, beneath the leather and the cool facade, he was genuinely kind, loving and deeply moral. He was a moral individual. Fonzie might have looked like he could take down anyone, but he would never, ever intentionally harm anyone, especially not an innocent person. In fact, he was often the first one to step in and protect those who couldn't protect themselves. That was his character, and I love that. Just think about it.

Ron: 4:30

How many times did Fonzie use his tough guy image not to be a bully but to diffuse a situation? How many times did he offer good advice to Richie and his buddies Sometimes surprisingly profound good advice, sometimes surprisingly profound good advice. He was the ultimate big brother figure that these guys probably needed, and a lot of guys needed a protector, but also a mentor. He was fiercely loyal to his friends, especially the Cunningham family, who took him in because he didn't have a family of his own. They became a surrogate family and he blended in so so well. A bit of a black sheep, but still what a wonderful person. And he, just in the show, truly cared about people. As I've watched interviews with Henry Winkler, who played the Fonz, that was Henry too, although he was never really the tough guy in real life. As I've seen documentaries about Henry Winkler, from what I understand, he was such a nice person when they were filming the show and now, as he's up in age, he's just still the kindest person In the show, especially as the character developed over the years.

Ron: 6:00

Fonzie's kindness was born of integrity and a deep understanding of right and wrong. He had a strong moral compass and he often used his influence for good. He defended the underdog and was surprisingly a good listener when someone needed to talk. He and Richie had some very interesting conversations and he truly cared, had some very interesting conversations and he truly cared. He might have been a high school dropout, but he had wisdom that formal education probably could never teach.

Ron: 6:36

And his love? It wasn't this romantic kind, though he certainly had a share of girlfriends. Fonzie's love was a deep, abiding affection for his friends and for the Cunningham family who took him in. Especially, again as the show developed, he wasn't afraid to show vulnerability when it truly mattered, proving that true strength isn't about never showing emotion but about always being authentic. So what can we learn from the Fonz, the motorcycle-riding tough guy with the heart of gold? Well, he taught us that appearances can be deceiving. Certainly he showed us that you can be cool and strong and still be kind and compassionate. He personified the idea that true power isn't in dominance, but it's about lifting up someone else, at least for me, on the Peace Love Moto podcast, I'd say that Fonzie is an example of what I try to relay in every episode maybe A love for the open road, certainly, and the freedom and joy of being out on two wheels, but also a commitment to try to do good in the world just as best we can.

Ron: 8:15

It's such a hurting world. Some people just need a smile. A hurting world. Some people just need a smile. So, whether it's an over-the-top tip for a server or a smile and a hello to a total stranger who sees your bike, you just got to do it, we just have to do it. So maybe next time you take a ride, think of the Fonz. He was this cultural phenomenon who taught us that you can be that tough guy out on a motorcycle, but you can still have a heart of gold, as always. Thank you so much for listening and until we visit again, I wish you peace and I wish you love.