1 00:00:00,420 --> 00:00:03,000 Hi, and welcome to a special Christmas Eve edition of 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:06,600 Podcaster Stories. In this episode, I'm taking a look back 3 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:08,490 at some of the amazing stories my guests shared in 4 00:00:08,490 --> 00:00:11,250 season two of the show. Listen with me as my 5 00:00:11,250 --> 00:00:12,870 guests, tell us about some of the things that changed 6 00:00:12,870 --> 00:00:16,470 their lives and made them the person they are today. 7 00:00:16,470 --> 00:00:19,740 In episode one, Jenell Riesner and Rachel Bellotti of the 8 00:00:19,740 --> 00:00:22,590 True North Collective podcast spoke about why it's important to 9 00:00:22,590 --> 00:00:24,210 get messy when having difficult conversations. 10 00:00:26,210 --> 00:00:29,900 In my own journey. For example, we just launched a 11 00:00:29,900 --> 00:00:33,770 mini series called Amplify, and we're speaking with people basically 12 00:00:33,770 --> 00:00:39,050 about race/racism, being in a system that doesn't allow you 13 00:00:39,050 --> 00:00:42,140 to be authentically you or celebrate you. And I know 14 00:00:42,140 --> 00:00:46,130 that's something, you know, Rachel had this beautiful brain child 15 00:00:46,130 --> 00:00:49,430 have an idea and we set it up and I've 16 00:00:49,430 --> 00:00:52,190 been so grateful because those are the types of conversations 17 00:00:52,190 --> 00:00:55,460 that I have passion for, but I'm so scared to 18 00:00:55,460 --> 00:00:57,140 be a part of, because I feel like I don't, 19 00:00:57,140 --> 00:01:00,530 I don't know what to say. I don't know the 20 00:01:00,530 --> 00:01:03,980 right thing to say. And I think the podcast has 21 00:01:03,980 --> 00:01:06,800 been a platform, whether it be on that topic or 22 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:09,470 other topics where we've really pushed ourselves. 23 00:01:10,550 --> 00:01:13,100 And I know I'd been pushed, but in a space 24 00:01:13,100 --> 00:01:16,910 that does feel safe where I'm publicly saying like, Hey, 25 00:01:16,910 --> 00:01:20,840 I don't know the answer here. I'm gonna get it 26 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:25,520 wrong and I'm going to be a messy and can 27 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:27,860 we all be okay with that? 28 00:01:27,860 --> 00:01:30,440 The following week, Jody Hanks and Chris Rash of The 29 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:33,050 Digression, Podcast talked of their time in the US Air 30 00:01:33,050 --> 00:01:35,210 Force and why their show doesn't shy away from topics 31 00:01:35,210 --> 00:01:38,630 like suicide, death, and sexual assault in the armed forces. 32 00:01:40,130 --> 00:01:41,730 You know, those kind of things, we would deal with, 33 00:01:41,730 --> 00:01:43,670 you know, you know, we had our problems with substance 34 00:01:43,670 --> 00:01:47,060 abuse. We've had our problems with suicides. You know, the 35 00:01:47,060 --> 00:01:49,520 whole spectrum of the human condition is what we had 36 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:51,770 to deal with day in and day out. So as 37 00:01:51,770 --> 00:01:53,030 much as we want to have fun on the podcast, 38 00:01:53,030 --> 00:01:55,460 we take what we, you know, experiences we had in 39 00:01:55,460 --> 00:01:57,140 the air force and we examined some of the things 40 00:01:57,140 --> 00:01:59,000 that are going on in the military today, and, you 41 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:01,640 know, they were very, very serious subjects. We, you know, 42 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:04,820 we, we know that we've talked to also in that 43 00:02:04,820 --> 00:02:08,030 episode about the sexual assault scandal in San Antonio, Texas 44 00:02:08,030 --> 00:02:10,640 for the air force, with the military training instructors. And, 45 00:02:10,640 --> 00:02:14,360 you know, that was, you know, those were kind of, 46 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:16,100 those are the issues that a chief and a first 47 00:02:16,100 --> 00:02:17,720 Sergeant would have to work every day, every day. So 48 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:20,900 we just incorporate that into our podcast because you know, 49 00:02:20,900 --> 00:02:23,900 a lot of our listeners relate to it, to, you 50 00:02:23,900 --> 00:02:26,690 know, you know, having to deal with the chief in 51 00:02:26,690 --> 00:02:28,370 the shirt, you know, in some way, shape or form. 52 00:02:30,500 --> 00:02:32,870 Episode 3 saw me chat with Michael Levitt of the 53 00:02:32,870 --> 00:02:36,290 Breakfast Leadership network, and how stress through the COVID pandemic, 54 00:02:36,290 --> 00:02:39,470 was causing so many issues for people and businesses. 55 00:02:39,650 --> 00:02:43,190 I think a lot of it boils down to we 56 00:02:43,190 --> 00:02:47,840 as humans don't have proper boundaries and how we live 57 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:50,990 and the boundaries of what we consume, not just food, 58 00:02:50,990 --> 00:02:53,600 but the information that we consume. Yeah, right now is 59 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:58,220 a stressful time. And if we're watching the news several 60 00:02:58,220 --> 00:03:01,330 hours a day we're consuming a lot of negative information 61 00:03:01,330 --> 00:03:06,910 and that stresses people out. It concerns us as governments 62 00:03:06,910 --> 00:03:09,910 opened things up and then closed things back down again, 63 00:03:09,910 --> 00:03:13,420 that's stressful for many people because they're worried they have 64 00:03:13,420 --> 00:03:15,820 fear that they can lose their job. There could be 65 00:03:15,820 --> 00:03:18,580 an income drop in their household. They won't be able 66 00:03:18,580 --> 00:03:21,880 to do the things that they like doing with the 67 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:23,050 holidays coming up. 68 00:03:23,050 --> 00:03:25,420 There's a lot of concern of will I be able 69 00:03:25,420 --> 00:03:28,330 to go home for Christmas or see loved ones for 70 00:03:28,330 --> 00:03:33,760 the holidays or whatever holiday you observe. It's really, really 71 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:37,365 problematic. And you know, that stress builds up. 72 00:03:37,935 --> 00:03:41,550 In episode 4, Sarah St John of the Frugalpreneur podcast 73 00:03:41,550 --> 00:03:44,580 shared how she found her passion when she became an 74 00:03:44,580 --> 00:03:44,760 entrepreneur. 75 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:46,800 I don't know if it's like a gene or in 76 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:48,960 your DNA or I feel like it's something that you 77 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:52,890 must be born with. Because even when I was a 78 00:03:52,890 --> 00:03:56,730 kid, I would gather up like free candy and pencils 79 00:03:56,730 --> 00:04:00,090 and things like that and then sell them to my 80 00:04:00,090 --> 00:04:03,720 friends. But I didn't actually start a business until 2008 81 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:07,080 was my first business. And it was actually a photography 82 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:09,540 business. But after a few years I decided I wanted 83 00:04:09,540 --> 00:04:13,470 to switch to online business just because the overhead was 84 00:04:13,470 --> 00:04:17,490 getting so expensive with photography, with maintenance and upkeep of 85 00:04:17,490 --> 00:04:22,440 the equipment and stuff. And, and so it was, I 86 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:27,190 think once I start online businesses that I really realized 87 00:04:27,190 --> 00:04:29,685 that that's the path that I want to go. 88 00:04:30,368 --> 00:04:34,290 In episode 5, Nate Garrison of The EXTRAordinary Podcast offered 89 00:04:34,290 --> 00:04:36,660 his advice on why success needs to be measured by 90 00:04:36,660 --> 00:04:38,910 the lifestyle you're able to craft and spend your day 91 00:04:38,910 --> 00:04:41,040 as opposed to just financial success. 92 00:04:41,310 --> 00:04:44,580 You know, it's really not so much about the, the 93 00:04:44,580 --> 00:04:50,130 money. The success success is very important because I think 94 00:04:50,130 --> 00:04:53,580 success leaves characteristics and traits that are very important. But 95 00:04:53,580 --> 00:04:56,280 when it's so tied up into money into the financial 96 00:04:56,280 --> 00:04:58,980 side of it, then there's these other things that get 97 00:04:58,980 --> 00:05:02,040 neglected. These are the things that get removed. And when 98 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:05,520 you can, when you can realize your success based on 99 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:07,770 the lifestyle that you're able to craft, when you're able 100 00:05:07,770 --> 00:05:12,360 to value success on how you spend your day. Okay, 101 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:14,910 well now we're on to something that we can kind 102 00:05:14,910 --> 00:05:17,700 of say, okay, well let's craft the lifestyle that allows 103 00:05:17,700 --> 00:05:20,700 me to have the day that I want to have. 104 00:05:22,050 --> 00:05:24,990 Episode 6 saw my good friend Tim Jahn of We're 105 00:05:24,990 --> 00:05:27,540 Only Human explain why our lives were defined by us 106 00:05:27,540 --> 00:05:29,910 and we choose the paths we walk on. 107 00:05:30,270 --> 00:05:33,030 The biggest thing for me personally has been this idea. 108 00:05:33,030 --> 00:05:37,110 And this is why I keep going is every conversation 109 00:05:37,110 --> 00:05:40,470 as a reminder and inspiration of this idea that we 110 00:05:40,470 --> 00:05:43,290 can define our own lives like this isn't something I 111 00:05:43,290 --> 00:05:45,330 don't know if you've figured this out or not or 112 00:05:45,330 --> 00:05:47,640 anyone listening has, I did not figure this out, that 113 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:49,950 like I am the one who can define my life. 114 00:05:49,950 --> 00:05:52,500 I think for a long time, I was just kind 115 00:05:52,500 --> 00:05:56,310 of asleep at the wheel and you know, sort of 116 00:05:56,310 --> 00:05:58,880 going through motions that, you know, whether someone else decided 117 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:00,770 this was a good path for me or I believe 118 00:06:00,770 --> 00:06:03,110 this was a good path for me or you know, 119 00:06:03,110 --> 00:06:06,290 it was recommended or whatever. But you know this idea 120 00:06:06,290 --> 00:06:08,990 now that what I do for a living, what I 121 00:06:08,990 --> 00:06:11,480 do with my time every day and what I want 122 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:14,780 to do next year, like this is all going to 123 00:06:14,780 --> 00:06:18,670 happen based on the intention, I put forth. 124 00:06:18,850 --> 00:06:22,060 In episode 7 Catherine Praisewater of Your Positive Imprint shared 125 00:06:22,060 --> 00:06:25,270 many inspiring and moving stories with us, including death threats 126 00:06:25,270 --> 00:06:27,850 to her guests, how a hospital visit changed her life 127 00:06:27,850 --> 00:06:30,760 forever, and why the small things in life are so 128 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:31,120 important. 129 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:34,000 And so when I came back to the United States, 130 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:36,610 I was, I was teaching, I told the students this 131 00:06:36,610 --> 00:06:40,030 story and I said, do you know when you go 132 00:06:40,030 --> 00:06:44,560 to the grocery store, simple things like putting the cart 133 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:48,700 in its spot makes a difference for people who work 134 00:06:48,700 --> 00:06:50,860 at the store. Don't don't put that cart in the 135 00:06:50,860 --> 00:06:53,650 middle of the parking lot. I mean, that's just such 136 00:06:53,650 --> 00:06:56,260 a little simple thing for little children to know, but 137 00:06:56,260 --> 00:07:02,650 tell your parents work with your parents because this woman 138 00:07:02,650 --> 00:07:04,330 has lived through hell. 139 00:07:04,330 --> 00:07:08,410 Finally, in episode 8, Mark-John Clifford of ADHD: It's All 140 00:07:08,410 --> 00:07:10,840 Mishegoss had some amazing personal stories to tell, including a 141 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:12,640 prison stint that changed his life for the better, and 142 00:07:13,330 --> 00:07:16,090 one that he did for his uncle. 143 00:07:16,270 --> 00:07:18,880 They were offering him five years. And my lawyer said, 144 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:21,130 you know, if you want, we can work this out. 145 00:07:21,130 --> 00:07:23,290 You could take his place. So what I did is 146 00:07:23,290 --> 00:07:26,170 I confessed to doing a lot of things which I 147 00:07:26,170 --> 00:07:28,930 had done. And the agreement was that I would get 148 00:07:28,930 --> 00:07:31,960 five years and take my uncle's place and they would 149 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:34,600 come after me. Well, they decided that five years wasn't 150 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:38,650 enough. The judge made a decision that there was more 151 00:07:38,650 --> 00:07:42,250 to me than met the eye. Everything she thought and 152 00:07:42,250 --> 00:07:43,300 read about from the FBI was true. 153 00:07:43,510 --> 00:07:46,630 I hope you've enjoyed this look back at the first 154 00:07:46,630 --> 00:07:49,960 half of season two. Podcaster Stories will be back in 155 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:54,310 the New Year with more amazing guests and stories. So 156 00:07:54,310 --> 00:07:57,440 don't forget to subscribe anywhere you listen to podcasts: Apple 157 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:59,530 podcasts, Spotify, Google podcasts, Amazon Music and more, or hop 158 00:07:59,530 --> 00:08:02,410 on over to the PodcasterStories.com where you can sign up 159 00:08:02,410 --> 00:08:04,660 for the free newsletter. Until the next time, have a 160 00:08:04,660 --> 00:08:05,050 wonderful holiday season and I hope it's a safe and 161 00:08:05,050 --> 00:08:05,260 happy one.