Hi, and welcome to a special Christmas Eve edition of
Podcaster Stories. In this episode, I'm taking a look back
at some of the amazing stories my guests shared in
season two of the show. Listen with me as my
guests, tell us about some of the things that changed
their lives and made them the person they are today.
In episode one, Jenell Riesner and Rachel Bellotti of the
True North Collective podcast spoke about why it's important to
get messy when having difficult conversations.
In my own journey. For example, we just launched a
mini series called Amplify, and we're speaking with people basically
about race/racism, being in a system that doesn't allow you
to be authentically you or celebrate you. And I know
that's something, you know, Rachel had this beautiful brain child
have an idea and we set it up and I've
been so grateful because those are the types of conversations
that I have passion for, but I'm so scared to
be a part of, because I feel like I don't,
I don't know what to say. I don't know the
right thing to say. And I think the podcast has
been a platform, whether it be on that topic or
other topics where we've really pushed ourselves.
And I know I'd been pushed, but in a space
that does feel safe where I'm publicly saying like, Hey,
I don't know the answer here. I'm gonna get it
wrong and I'm going to be a messy and can
we all be okay with that?
The following week, Jody Hanks and Chris Rash of The
Digression, Podcast talked of their time in the US Air
Force and why their show doesn't shy away from topics
like suicide, death, and sexual assault in the armed forces.
You know, those kind of things, we would deal with,
you know, you know, we had our problems with substance
abuse. We've had our problems with suicides. You know, the
whole spectrum of the human condition is what we had
to deal with day in and day out. So as
much as we want to have fun on the podcast,
we take what we, you know, experiences we had in
the air force and we examined some of the things
that are going on in the military today, and, you
know, they were very, very serious subjects. We, you know,
we, we know that we've talked to also in that
episode about the sexual assault scandal in San Antonio, Texas
for the air force, with the military training instructors. And,
you know, that was, you know, those were kind of,
those are the issues that a chief and a first
Sergeant would have to work every day, every day. So
we just incorporate that into our podcast because you know,
a lot of our listeners relate to it, to, you
know, you know, having to deal with the chief in
the shirt, you know, in some way, shape or form.
Episode 3 saw me chat with Michael Levitt of the
Breakfast Leadership network, and how stress through the COVID pandemic,
was causing so many issues for people and businesses.
I think a lot of it boils down to we
as humans don't have proper boundaries and how we live
and the boundaries of what we consume, not just food,
but the information that we consume. Yeah, right now is
a stressful time. And if we're watching the news several
hours a day we're consuming a lot of negative information
and that stresses people out. It concerns us as governments
opened things up and then closed things back down again,
that's stressful for many people because they're worried they have
fear that they can lose their job. There could be
an income drop in their household. They won't be able
to do the things that they like doing with the
holidays coming up.
There's a lot of concern of will I be able
to go home for Christmas or see loved ones for
the holidays or whatever holiday you observe. It's really, really
problematic. And you know, that stress builds up.
In episode 4, Sarah St John of the Frugalpreneur podcast
shared how she found her passion when she became an
entrepreneur.
I don't know if it's like a gene or in
your DNA or I feel like it's something that you
must be born with. Because even when I was a
kid, I would gather up like free candy and pencils
and things like that and then sell them to my
friends. But I didn't actually start a business until 2008
was my first business. And it was actually a photography
business. But after a few years I decided I wanted
to switch to online business just because the overhead was
getting so expensive with photography, with maintenance and upkeep of
the equipment and stuff. And, and so it was, I
think once I start online businesses that I really realized
that that's the path that I want to go.
In episode 5, Nate Garrison of The EXTRAordinary Podcast offered
his advice on why success needs to be measured by
the lifestyle you're able to craft and spend your day
as opposed to just financial success.
You know, it's really not so much about the, the
money. The success success is very important because I think
success leaves characteristics and traits that are very important. But
when it's so tied up into money into the financial
side of it, then there's these other things that get
neglected. These are the things that get removed. And when
you can, when you can realize your success based on
the lifestyle that you're able to craft, when you're able
to value success on how you spend your day. Okay,
well now we're on to something that we can kind
of say, okay, well let's craft the lifestyle that allows
me to have the day that I want to have.
Episode 6 saw my good friend Tim Jahn of We're
Only Human explain why our lives were defined by us
and we choose the paths we walk on.
The biggest thing for me personally has been this idea.
And this is why I keep going is every conversation
as a reminder and inspiration of this idea that we
can define our own lives like this isn't something I
don't know if you've figured this out or not or
anyone listening has, I did not figure this out, that
like I am the one who can define my life.
I think for a long time, I was just kind
of asleep at the wheel and you know, sort of
going through motions that, you know, whether someone else decided
this was a good path for me or I believe
this was a good path for me or you know,
it was recommended or whatever. But you know this idea
now that what I do for a living, what I
do with my time every day and what I want
to do next year, like this is all going to
happen based on the intention, I put forth.
In episode 7 Catherine Praisewater of Your Positive Imprint shared
many inspiring and moving stories with us, including death threats
to her guests, how a hospital visit changed her life
forever, and why the small things in life are so
important.
And so when I came back to the United States,
I was, I was teaching, I told the students this
story and I said, do you know when you go
to the grocery store, simple things like putting the cart
in its spot makes a difference for people who work
at the store. Don't don't put that cart in the
middle of the parking lot. I mean, that's just such
a little simple thing for little children to know, but
tell your parents work with your parents because this woman
has lived through hell.
Finally, in episode 8, Mark-John Clifford of ADHD: It's All
Mishegoss had some amazing personal stories to tell, including a
prison stint that changed his life for the better, and
one that he did for his uncle.
They were offering him five years. And my lawyer said,
you know, if you want, we can work this out.
You could take his place. So what I did is
I confessed to doing a lot of things which I
had done. And the agreement was that I would get
five years and take my uncle's place and they would
come after me. Well, they decided that five years wasn't
enough. The judge made a decision that there was more
to me than met the eye. Everything she thought and
read about from the FBI was true.
I hope you've enjoyed this look back at the first
half of season two. Podcaster Stories will be back in
the New Year with more amazing guests and stories. So
don't forget to subscribe anywhere you listen to podcasts: Apple
podcasts, Spotify, Google podcasts, Amazon Music and more, or hop
on over to the PodcasterStories.com where you can sign up
for the free newsletter. Until the next time, have a
wonderful holiday season and I hope it's a safe and
happy one.