Laurel Irwin is a wife, mother of 4, obsessed with weightlifting, which is why she is a fitness coach who specializes in global strength and body recomposition.She is insatiably curious about the psychology of motivation and the power of internal beliefs. That will become evident the more you listen to this episode. She describes people and relationships as being her currency, her measure of success & fulfillment.I would say that's unsurprising, coming from a female—that she would place so much value on people and relationships, as it's been proven time and time again that men prefer things, objects, working with their hands, that sort of thing. And women tend to veer on the side of people and relationships in their preferences.This has been demonstrated by career choice among among the sexes, even in those countries widely considered most egalitarian, such as those in Scandanavia.Laurel's says one of her deepest values is truth.I'll tell you before we get started she's one of the top 2 or 3 smartest gals I've had on the podcast. I really, really, enjoyed our conversation, which felt like a healthy debate at times, which is something we don't have enough of...in this country.I say "in this country," but it should be said—Laurel is from Canada and lives in Mexico—we recorded our podcast episode in Mexico—and I am from America. Still applies. Before I bring her on, just want to let you know that you connect with her using the social media links below. She is offering five (5) online training & nutrition coaching slots for those who might be interested. Look her up, and please enjoy our conversation.

A Woman Wants a Man Incapable of Manipulation with Laurel Irwin

Gerald Awak is my guest. He is an African-American fella from Houston, TX. He would tell you that his experience growing up without a father had him seeking guidance from the older men in prison.There were a lot of fights in prison. It sounds like a lot of them he initiated because it would help to make sure he maintained his own cell.That was when he wasn't in "solitary," as he refers to it. What he calls the" free world," we call solitary confinement.But Gerald got a lot smarter spending so much time behind bars. With nothing but his thoughts.He was let out of prison early for good behavior. But you know, and this isn't to take anything away from him, I heard a lot of people got out of the pen early for good behavior during COVID—I should ask him about that.He's utilized the knowledge gained from them to make a real impact now that he's out. He's determined to do something with his life. He's a rapper you can find on Spotify—he goes by 3G, which stand for Good, Gone, Gangsta, which he explains in this episode.

Good, Gone, Gangsta with Gerald Awak

My guest is Dr. Jessica Kind. She is a climate change scientist, entrepreneur, and NFT illustrator currently living and working in Guatemala.Back in 2015, she and a group of friends started the fossil fuel divestment movement in Switzerland because of the risks it poses for both investors and the planet. In 2011, she also searched for wind's historic directions in the deserts of Australia and enjoyed cave expeditions as part of her paleoclimatic studies.In her 40s, Dr. Kind spends most of her time studying environmental education & emotional intelligence (EQ)—she comes across as quite the student and professor of emotional intelligence. Probably because she's near infinitely intelligent with a keen insight on EQAt the time of recording, she had just finished a workshop at the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG), where she wanted her students to be curious, actively participate, and be aware of the environmental problems upon us here & now.Growing up in East GermanyIn this episode, Jessica says before German reunification, she grew up with her grandparents and aunt in very poor conditions. She recalls living in a multi-family home with an outhouse rather than a regular bathroom—which most of us take for granted today.At night, she would often opt to pee her pants rather than walk out in freezing temperatures to put her bare ass on a freezing seat. Hard to blame her (we men have it a little easier). They only had one room with central heating in the flat, which was like a little stove fired with coal.She says the primary reason she’s living in Guatemala now is because she can’t stand cold temperatures.Who could blame her?We also discuss how Dr. Kind became interested in climate activism. She says it started when she was around 18 years old and went to her first demonstration. She realized it’s something she would like to continue, and went to more demonstrations.By the time she started studying environmental science, she immersed herself in the topic. Over time, she admittedly became more radical in her activism. She and her radical friends decided to occupy a German coal-fired power plant, which she thinks is the most exciting thing she's done in her life so far.I knew I’d enjoy this conversation and learn a lot—how often do you get to sit with a climate scientist for 2-3 hours and discuss her life growing up behind the Iron Curtain. Hope you learn a lot too (she's also got a great personality).

Growing up in East Berlin, Climate Change & My Life as a Pansexual with Jessica Kind

Chase Lambin played professional baseball until he was 35 years old. During that span, he played a stint for Bobby Valentine in the Japanese Big Leagues with the Chiba Lotte Marines.He is a man who's had the sort of career for which movies are made. But he walks around like the beauty who doesn't know it. Could explain our long-term friendship (I like to think I'm pretty too). I kid. But for certain we married the type (that doesn't know she's beautiful).First time I met Chase in 9th grade, humility would've been the last word I'd use to describe him. Not only was he the most cocksure fella in the club on this particular Friday night—sporting a blonde mullet, yellow Polo, khaki pants & Red Wing boots, dude was gettin' after it on the dancefloor. He took no songs off.Finally, he took a break and I walked over to introduce myself. He was sweating like a woman who sells her body for money, yet still attends mass on Sunday.One thing you've gotta understand about 'high school Chase.' It didn't matter if he was in the on-deck circle talking at a pitcher, walking up to the plate talking at the pitcher (and catcher), or chirping as he passed the pitcher after the play, he was going to talk throughout the whole game.I can't say it turned me on or off. It's who he was. I thought it was his way of firing himself up, and since it mostly worked, who was I to say anything?In all my years playing (and watching) baseball, I've yet to see a more excited and animated shortstop who brung it everyday to the ballpark the way Chase did.Yet ask him today what he's most proud of during his reign in baseball—he'll tell you this: "Being a great teammate, no question."That's not a full-180, but I've forgotten most skateboard terminology. And if I called the way he changed throughout his career an "about-face," it'd be my first time using that word too.Let's just say the game changes you. Competition changes you. Camaraderie changes you. Deep slumps...I could go on.Unlike so many other guys who left the game disgruntled because they didn't get their shot in the Big Leagues, Chase has insisted it was about the journey. He expounds on his journey during his first appearance on the podcast: Becoming a Human Catalyst with Chase Lambin.Naturally, you'd think the "bestie" was a shoe-in for my first guest-spot. But no. "Alf" and the older brother from The Wonder Years, Wayne, had publicists who both wanted to know how many listeners I had.When I asked them if relatives count, twice I said "bye" to a dial-tone.Lesson learned. Bring on "the bestie."Of course he 'killed.' His passion for storytelling—rivaled by few—wouldn't have been topped by Alf or Wayne from The Wonder Years.But I had this idea I'd go for the nostalgic play right out of the gate. Same way wifey is antique shopping for the home where we plan to live a little (it's our first). Same concept.Chase's interview game is lit. Just an example, he's never wanted to prepare. Never had notes or index cards in fron

You're Going to "The Show!" with Chase Lambin

My guest, Florica Means, is the first polymath I've had on this show. She was born & raised in Romania. She escaped her home country in 1990, at the age of 36.Her story is incredible, which, even writing the word incredible, feels like I've cheapened the word a long time. I've done it justice here though, but I've been forced to grapple with using the word too often—as we frequently use others words. Awesome comes to mind. Or unbelievable.But trust me when I say that "Flory" (permission granted to use her nickname)—her story is hard to believe. It's incredible, but true. I've been inside her home. I've seen pictures, passports, stamps, etc.I'll leave most of the story for her to share. Because she tells it so well.In this episode, once combined with her accent, goosebumps may ensue, which she herself admits to getting while telling her own story.We spend considerable time discussing Florica's experience living under Romanian President Nicolae Ceaușescu's regime.We also talk about what led her to ultimately leaving her home country—the only home she'd ever known. Hint: she'd finally had enough, and wanted a taste of freedom.This was such an insightful discussion from as candid of a guest as I've welcomed here. In fact, I've never had a podcast episode like this.So candid. So vulnerable. I hope you enjoy and appreciate Flory as much as I did.

Escaping the Soviet Bloc, Sent to the Gulags, Raped in Prisons with Florica Means

JR Gondeck is the sharpest financial mind I've had on this show. He's a Wealth Advisor & Managing Director at The Lerner Group. Not to mention he's been featured in Forbes, Barron's, VP at a big bank and has 4 kiddos!JR works with families to promote intentional communication and drive collaboration between all generations. In fact, he recently co-authored a book titled, Family Value at Risk, which details the importance of inclusive and intentional communication among family members "to leave a legacy wealthier than money."JR leverages his deep knowledge of global financial markets and passion for investing to guide clients through market trends. He's an advocate of financial literacy and hosts family meetings to connect with the next generation.In this episode, we discuss JR's thoughts on Bitcoin—whether he believes in its potential as a long-term currency. He focuses on its limiting factors and compares the cryptocurrency to gold.JR and I also talk about the importance of knowing one's Net Worth. He says he's always surprised by how many people don't know their Net Worth, which he says is crucial to know, adding, "Detail everything—from 401K accounts, insurance, investments you've made, mortgage & interest rates—so that you really know what the bottom line number is."Especially at our age (JD & I are the same age), he says, "It's critical you know where everything is and how it's titled."Why is this so important (that you know your Net Worth)?Number one. It allows for better decision-making, both short-term (can you buy a new car with the motherfuckin' driver seat sittin' in the middle?) and long-term (can you and your son Weezy get a house by the water?) This conversation was fun. My guest was sharp as they come. He makes many predictions during  this episode that have already come true.But perhaps the most impactful part of the discussion, for me at least, was how he now has me thinking about multi-generational financial strategy. Whereas I considered myself a long-term thinker before now, JR has me adding pages to the 'ole financial playbook.Hope you learn as much as I did!

Money Matters with JR Gondeck

My podcast guest today is one-of-a-kind. Those are words I've never used to describe any prior guest.Strong words, you might say. Deserving, I'd throw back at you.Harry Corcell is someone I've liked and respected since we met in late 2000s working at Idera Software.I wish we'd met sooner. Yeah, that sounds like something you'd say about a romantic partner. But I'm leaving it here because I mean it. You'll notice on this episode Harry & I can talk about almost anything (and do):80s rap, hair bands, Red Sox baseball, being a girl-dad, journaling, race in America, and even Flow: Optimal Experience.Born in Bogota, Columbia, Harry didn't move to Boston till he was 8 years old. Listen closely when he speaks, and you'll hear a cross between Boston & Brooklyn, a place he's also lived. In fact, during Fun Questions, Harry said Brooklyn would be his top choice to live of all cities in the US.Strong words, you might say. I've never been to Brooklyn, I'd rebut.Whether selling tons of software, "killing" on stage at a comedy club, or "bombing"—he's done all three over the last 20 years. And you won't meet anyone more appreciative of the opportunities and experiences Harry has had.He's got an affable manner that draws you in. He's instantly likable. If I gave you three guesses as to what Harry does for a living, you'd probably guess it in one. Not only is he a natural sales guy, but he views his vocation as a craft—he's a true student of the profession—something we need more of.Harry also discusses being on the The Hero's Journey. After reading Joseph Campbell's book by the same name, how could you not think you're on the same path (albeit your own). By the way, I bought The Power of Myth after Harry said it was his favorite book.I couldn't be more fortunate to catch Harry the day before he moved to Miami, FL. If you enjoy good storytellers, this episode's for you. If you like witty banter, again. this episode is for you. If you believe wide-ranging discussions about interesting topics are your favorite kind of podcasts, then by now you smell what that fella who earned a degree from "The U" in '95 is cookin'.Harry takes us through the ups and downs of how he got to where he is now, in a way that only he could. It's a high bar, but I hope Miami treats Harry Corcell with the respect he deserves. He's a good man, hard-working and hilarious. Not the sort of person you'd want to compete with if you were selling a similar software product, which is the reason he's bringing his A+ software game to South Florida—he got a job offer he couldn't refuse.Hope you get a chance to tune in to this episode and enjoy it as much as I did.

Overcoming Fear of Failure, Gratitude for Being Alive & The Power of Myth with Harry Corcell

Jim Corfield is one of those guys you don't meet everyday. We were chatting at the hotel pool in Playa Del Carmen, MX, but it felt like we were on bar stools in a British pub.I was drawn to him. It could've been his ability to tell a good story—a rare and underrated skill set. Which too often reminds me of a sense of humor in that everybody thinks they have it. Nonetheless, five minutes of chatting with Jim and I thought I've gotta get this Brit on the pod. He's got "it."He's a married father of three and an adept risk-taker (my kind of guy). Quick example—six years ago he moved his family from small town Britain to Vancouver. On a whim. Now he's living out his childhood dream, traveling at a break-neck pace and eating it up like he's never had anything but British food.We talk about getting rich slowly; buying assets in lieu of things that depreciate in value; envy and resentment for success in Britain; similarities in the underclasses of America & Britain; how expensive Vancouver is nowadays; real estate investing; Jim's grand-dad's best advice; Kobe Bryant, Joe Dimaggio & Michael Jordan.This was one of my Top 3 episodes all-time. Hope you'll see why, and enjoy!

Calculated Risk-Taking & Moving Across the World with Jim Corfield

My guest is Alla Bondarenko. She’s an art historian and gemologist from St. Petersburg, Russia. She works remotely for a Russian company in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. Her two passions are psychology & travel.Lucky for us, I'm not interested in gemology, so we mostly discuss travel & psychology. No applause please—it's my job to ensure each episode is worth listening to. But this one, especially, you'll want to copy the link and share with friend(s).Why?Because Alla is the smart & opinionated friend, who, if you got her in a room to "pick her brain" (like many people say they want with you over coffee sometime—but you never hear from again), you'd be like: "Holy moley—this girl's been holding out on me."She doesn't volunteer what she knows, but with a little prodding, you realize the wealth of information in her noggin. In Texas, we'd say, "Look at the big 'ol brain on Alla."Enter Man O. Perhaps the brightest Christmas light on the tree—at least during the USSR years when Christmas was largely erased from the calendar thanks to anti-religious policies during the Soviet Union years. But we're back! Notice the picture at the bottom of the show notes.For this episode, I reserved a private room in a co-working space. And the two of us dive-deep into:Alla growing up in RussiaRussia-Ukraine conflictmasculinity / femininityfake Covid vaccine cardsthe years following Soviet Union's implosionAlla's opinion of PutinFor those of you with no patience—you're either a bad doctor or lack self-regulation—at around 30:00 minutes in you'll hear a unique opinion of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.Or maybe you have a 27-minute commute tomorrow morning and want to hear a fearless Russian's take on Putin that'll fire you up for the day. If so, you've come to the right place.You can catch the rest of this podcast episode on your way home, on a walk, or at the gym. Aren't podcasts the greatest invention since drip coffee? You can listen anytime, anywhere.When I start asking Alla about the first time she'd heard about "the conflict," she says she didn’t believe it at first. When friends told her the news—she thought she was hearing the product of mass-media manipulation. It took several days for her to finally believe it was in fact true.We also talk about her troubles working remotely as a result of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. For example, since Visa, Mastercard, and all other money-transferring services are now blocked for Russians like her, she says she must be paid in a Russian account—but then she immediately turns her rubles into cryptocurrency.Since the war began in February 2022, she says the exchange rate of Russian rubles (RUB) has plummeted. Right now, she's taking a 20% pay cut at work. But for many weeks—immediately following the conflict—she suffered what amounted to a 50% pay cut, almost overnight.We also share our thoughts on topics such as: travel, dating, meditation, and much more.Having Alla on the podcast was my biggest

Alla Bondarenko—Putin's War from a Russian Gal with Ukrainian Relatives' Perspective

No guest will be joining me for this episode. Instead, by popular request, I'm revisiting the blog post I wrote called: 40 Pieces of Life Advice for 20-Year Old Me.Positive feedback received from the article continues to be overwhelming, in the best way possible, and much appreciated.Tens of thousands of you have read the piece. And I've been told by dozens of readers that it's been the most helpful article I've written to date.So let's take a deeper dive, shall we?!I'll cover points not covered in the first "deep dive" solo episode.Hope you enjoy listening as much as I did recording!Life advice discussed:[#3] Don’t bother telling people what you plan to do—just do it.[#5] You don’t need a leadership title to be a leader. If you see potential in someone who doesn’t see it, offer to help them.[#13] Words are powerful—none more powerful than, “I love you.”[#17] True self-confidence is rare because it’s hard to attain and there are no shortcuts.[#18] Our world is filled with people who are 1) unaware 2) have no desire for the truth 3) can’t even bear to tell themselves the truth.[#28] Interpersonal skills are at an all-time low thanks to 10 years of human screen-addictions.[#29] Listen more than you talk, and don’t talk to talkers.[#30] You’ll live a more peaceful life expecting incompetence and being pleasantly surprised than the reverse. Unless someone works with you or for you, expect incompetence.[#31] Happiness is your responsibility[#32] God may have made Hollywood celebrities a thing just to demonstrate that fame & fortune don’t make for a happy life.[#34] Two things to study continuously: communication & human nature.[#36] Get to acceptance as fast as possible.[#40] Invest well. You can’t believe what you can see & do once you get money out of the way.

Deeper Dive Into 40 Pieces of Life Advice with Brad Dantonio

In this episode, we discuss Mr. Sperier's time during the war. He wanted to be a naval aviation pilot "on the carriers." He recalls how they faked his colorblind test so he could advance to the next round of screening.It wasn’t until the next physical exam that he was busted. He'd have to give up on his dream of serving in the Naval Air Force and join the Merchant Marine Cadet Corp.He finished basic training and started his maritime training as a cadet in King’s Point, New York, which he says was "heaven on earth." Why? There were so many women to choose from. Apparently, all the 19-20 year old men were off at war, which meant those men training at King's Point had their choice of young gals.Mr. Sperier didn't take many trips to Europe—his deployment called for only 3 months of sea duty. Though he does remember fondly the brand new T2 tanker he rode as part of the convoy to Britain.We also talk about his career after the war ended. He worked as a test engineer at Pratt & Whitney, then got word the United States planned to go to the moon.He said he had to figure out a way to work on "the moon shot"—a project he definitely wanted to part of. At Chrysler, he helped to build the Saturn rocket that propelled the first man to the moon. The rest, as they say, is history.

Living the Life of Riley with 96-Year Old World War II Veteran Mr. Donald Sperier

My guest is listener-favorite, Jerrard Parfait. Last time he was on the show—it was the most-downloaded episode of the year (2021).Parfait is someone I respect for his relationship-building skills, parenting style, compartmentalization regarding risk-taking (which is a very underrated skill set btw). Not to mention he's a smart man and great conversationalist.In this episode, we discuss small talk vs. engaging conversations. Being a good conversationalist is another important skill set. I'm not sure how I personally picked up the ability to have beyond surface-level conversations quickly, but I think it has something to do with where I was raised (South Louisiana). I've always believed people in the Deep South are better conversationalists. And maybe that's because when you're living in a small town, you're sort of forced to have more conversations with people, whereas it's easier to hide and be anonymous in a big city.We talk a lot about Joe Rogan. And for good reason. He may be the most popular media figure in the country right now. His success has been largely dependent on his ability to have great conversations.We each share a few of our favorite JRE episodes. I ask Parfait about what he calls “The Joe Rogan Effect,” which is basically when someone hears a thought or opinion on a JRE episode and regurgitates what they've heard as if the opinion were their own.But we share thoughts on many topics—most of them listed below. Toward the end, we dedicate an entire section to parenting questions & answers. And since Parfait's been on the show before, I give him a new set of fun questions to answer.Hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did!

Popularity is Currency, Wokeness as Religion, Becoming High-Status with Jerrard Parfait

My guest is Tyler Aaron Johnson. He's a former Division I student-athlete at Nicholls State University. He played a big role on a defensive front that led the nation in sacks and tackles for loss in 2017 & 2018. In Taylor's senior season, they won the 2018 Southland Conference Championship!Tyler & I first met when I was invited to speak to their football team in 2018. Since then, he's become part of my one-on-one coaching program, which he says has provided invaluable insight on his journey to F.I.R.E (Financial Independence, Retire Early).He's a recent grad of Medical Sales College in Dallas, TX. And in recent weeks, he's landed a job in the cardiac division of an industry-leading company.How 'bout that? Just landed his first "real-world" job and already he's fully aware of FIRE.Don’t bet against this dude getting to FIRE. Fast. He’ll continue to keep his expenses low even once big paychecks start rolling in. That's when he'll start saving & investing a large portion of his income.In this episode, we discuss the importance of "not letting a bad play boil over into a bad day." It’s a quote he got from a good football coach. He said coaches will scold you for a bad play, but they did not want you to let a bad play roll over into the next play.Tangentially, Tyler says just because you’re not doing well in one aspect of life doesn’t mean you’re a failure. It just means you have something you need to work on. So keep persisting, be diligent, and compartmentalize.We also discuss the peace that comes from finding joy (vs. chasing happiness). Tyler says happiness is important, but it’s a fleeting emotion based on where you are and who’s around you at the time.Joy, on the other hand, is a state of being. It’s knowing your good days are going to be better than your bad days. He believes living with this disposition comes from God, and says other people call it "zen," adding, "It’s something you can definitely work toward."Excellent discussion with a young guest I’m proud to mentor. Hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did!

As a Man Thinketh with Tyler Johnson

Brandon Ruttley married about as well as a man can (I've known his wife since we were 10 years old). He's also the father of three beautiful girls, ages 10,7 & 3.Affectionately known as "Ruttley," or just "Rutt," in recent years he's more than quadrupled his income.Nowadays, we'd call a man of Rutt's calibre a "dude" (we used to call them "studs").And I haven't even mentioned—Ruttley is a former 5'9" walk-on Division I basketball player of a Caucasian persuasion."Walk-ons" have a different mentality from the rest. Ruttley now sells commercial insurance, where I'm told, "he kills it—everyday."Prior to his role in insurance, Ruttley spent seven years in athletics' administration as the #2 at Nicholls State University.His position as Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs at Nicholls State (2010-2016) meant overseeing all fundraising, ticket sales, sponsorships, marketing, football scheduling, and facility planning initiatives for the athletics' programs.When his own plan to become Athletic Director didn't pan out, he wasted no time using connections he'd made over the years to quickly find another opportunity.One thing I admire about Ruttley. He's a master relationship-builder. In fact, he believes, "relationships rule the world," adding, "without strong relationships—we never unlock our full potential."In this episode, he shares his secrets to building strong relationships. Secrets which have helped him become a "Peak Producer" for his management of several large accounts—not just in Louisiana—but all across the country.In this episode, we talk about how he became a fan of the Man Overseas podcast. He explains how the show has helped him to become financially prepared.For example, he's set up Roth IRAs for he & wife, Georgia. He now has 529 plans for his daughters. Enrolled in a 401K plan for himself and setup taxable brokerage accounts—all over the past six months.He also reveals that he'd never read a single book about personal finance before listening to the podcast, but has now read several. (All of this is music to my ears, of course!)We also discuss the book Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: 10 Secrets Every Father Should Know by Meg Meeker, M.D., which Brandon generously sent me in the mail last summer.One of the key takeaways from the book is the importance of improving your communication skills. People often think of communication skills as being more articulate or having an extensive vocabulary, but it's so much more than that.The author talks about how you say something is as important as anything you say. She uses this example. Asking your daughter: "I just can't imagine being your age—what's it like being a 13-year old girl right now?"Genius. It's open-ended. It demonstrates empathy and compassion. And most importantly, it's likely to get your daughter talking without feeling threatened.My copy of Strong Fathers, Strong Daugthers has as many highlights as any other book I own. Ruttley and I have a chapt

Strong Fathers Raise Strong Daughters with Brandon Ruttley

I’ve wanted Kurt Kristynik as a guest on the podcast for a long time. Interestingly, as Vice President of Buffaloe Floors, Kurt runs a 3rd generation family business—a bit of a black swan considering America's startup craze.Thinking back. I've respected Kurt's business acumen since the day I invited him to speak at our real estate organization almost 20 years ago. A presentation he nailed, by the way, due to his effective communication skills, humility and relatability.Kurt is also Director of Rake City Cypress Baseball, an organization he started from scratch in Spring 2017. The program, located in Cypress, Texas, is where he and wife, Marti, raise their son, Cole, and daughter, Chance.In his spare time, Kurt likes to deer hunt, fish and bar-b-que with friends & fam. In addition to his role as Director of Rake City Cypress Baseball, he operates three high school travel teams every fall and summer.Yet none of that is why I wanted Kurt on the podcast. Don't get me wrong. Operating & growing a family business is no small feat. Nor is building an elite baseball program or raising a beautiful  family.But for me, you sit beside Kurt, talking baseball, drinking beers—with or without respect for an arbitrary twenty-one number—or have him pull you "under his giant wing" to remind you the importance of where you came from.Of tradition.Of why relationships don't die, they deepen.Of keeping in contact—regardless where you happen to be in the world.Most importantly, it's Kurt's presence. His way of being that elevates those around him.It's a presence that's always conveyed to me: "You go be you, 'lil bro,' I trust you. Together, we'll get this thing figured out."By the way, Rake City isn't a place, although Alex Bregman may beg to differ. He and several teammates started calling Albuquerque, New Mexico, "Rake City," due to the amount of hitters his hometown produced.For the uninitiated, "rake," in baseball parlance, means frequently barreling that MF!  If you need help there, this episode isn't for you. Rake City "prided themselves on playing the game the right way, producing great teammates and young men who are going to be ready for the next levels of baseball and life."

Everyday I'm Raking: Business, Leadership, Relationships with Kurt Kristynik

Four guests join me for this important episode: Matthew Ory, Preston Hayes, Barry Sartin Jr., and David Ardoin. All are highly-respected civil & criminal attorneys who offer litigation services to individuals and businesses.Matt Ory & David Ardoin have been working together for 10 years at AMO Trial Lawyers. Their practice areas are: criminal defense, medical malpractice, and personal injury.Preston Hayes & Barry Sartin Jr. are partners at HMS Law Firm, where they help clients primarily with business litigation, construction law, personal injury and trial presentation.In this episode, we focus the first hour on Hurricane Ida: the recovery, price gouging, importance of keeping a paper copy of your insurance policy—which Matt believes is the most simplistic lesson learned from this recent storm to hit Louisiana). Why is that? Reason is your homeowners' policy will be needed when contacting an insurance adjuster following a major storm.My guests also give recommendations on what you should do before & after a hurricane. For example, when should you give proper notice to your insurance agent or broker that you've experienced a loss you believe to be covered by insurance.We discuss the importance of documentation when building an insurance claim. Since you’ll have to prove damages you've incurred—it is most crucial that you take photographs and videos. That's because the more information you can provide to your insurance provider, the better they're able to help you.But this episode isn't all serious business. No, in fact, this episode resembles a mullet—all business in the front and a ton of fun on the back end.Per usual, we finish with Fun Questions. but then we try something new. I ask Final Jeopardy questions, most of which are Dream Team-related. Whether that means Johnny Cochran and Kim & Chloe's dad, or Michael Jordan in Barcelona, you'll have to tune in to find out.This was a very informative episode. Way I see it. Anytime you can get this much brain-power in one room you turn yourself into a sponge—ask as many questions as you can and get out of the way. If you were at all negatively impacted by Hurricane Ida, or think you might be affected by a natural disaster in the future—this is an episode you don't want to miss.I learned a lot, hope you do too.

The Good Attorneys: Helping Us Fight Hurricane Ida's Devastation with Matthew Ory, Preston Hayes, David Ardoin & Barry Sartin, Jr.

My guest is HUGE in Korea! He's also fast-becoming famous here in the US.Dr. Chris Yandle can thank his 8th-grade daughter, Addison, for worldwide fame and adulation. If not for her letting Dad know how much she enjoyed #DadLunchNotes, he might've stopped writing them.As it were, the day Chris didn't slip a note into Addison's lunch, she asked what was up. That let Chris know she was not only reading his notes but enjoying them.Following appearances on The Today Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and more recently, People magazine, Chris' book, Lucky Enough, is starting to sell like kimchi in Korea.It's an incredible story.Let's go back to August 2017. Chris was bummed about a job loss and thought writing an encouraging note to Addison might elevate his own mood (as well as encourage his daughter).Regular listeners know I've long been a fan of handwritten personal-notes. Together with my recently becoming a #GirlDad, it's no wonder I bought Lucky Enough as soon I heard of it.The book reminds me of How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie (read my review and other book recommendations here), which ironically has been the most-recommended book on the podcast. Both books—Lucky Enough & "How to Win Friends"—make you want to serve others.On this episode, we discuss high rates of anxiety & depression among teen girls. The numbers are staggering. After 2013, the percentage of adolescent girls suffering from mental health disorders jumped 250% (source: The Coddling of the American Mind by Jonathan Haidt). With this in mind, Chris & I discuss how parents can navigate today's hyper-connected online environment.Chris is a native of South Louisiana. In a past-life, he was a college athletics administrator at "The U" (University of Miami), Georgia Tech & Baylor. I ask him how common it was to see high-profile alumni on campus. Guys like Jimmy Graham, Michael Vilma, Michael Irvin, Bernie Kosar, Vinny Testaverde, Edgerin James. And whether having them hanging around the facilities helped with recruiting.We also talk about NCAA’s new "name, image, and likeness" (NIL) policy. Chris believes one of the reasons he was pushed out of college athletics is because he didn’t like how student-athletes were treated. After all, coaches were making millions of dollars, while young men and women got nothing. But now, thanks to the new NIL rule, every NCAA athlete is given the opportunity to profit off their name, image, and likeness.Chris is a strong advocate for higher education. He said he's always believed: you’ll get somewhere in life based on your education. In fact, he recalls a pivotal moment in high school when his teacher said to him, "You'll never amount to anything in life until jackasses learn how to fly."His teacher's words left a mark. But by taking those words personally, they also inspired him. He found himself newly-motivated to get better grades. He earned a PhD.Now 39 years old, Chris recently moved his family home t

NCAA's NIL Rule, Dad Lunch Notes, Social Media & Mental Health with Dr. Chris Yandle

Melanie Boudreaux is an Assistant Professor at Nicholls State University—she teaches Human Resource Management. She's also Faculty Advisor for the Society of Human Resource Management and works as HR Director at Environment Safety & Health Consulting Services (ES&H). And just in case Melanie found herself with free time—she's also enrolled at University of South Alabama, where she will soon finish her PhD in Business Management.In lieu of eating and sleeping, evidently, Melanie enjoys being a wife to Benny Boudreaux, a mother of 6-year old twins, and paints Louisiana-themed crafts at Brushed by BouDreaux.When I asked Melanie why she puts so much "on her plate," she said it's because she loves to learn and help people. Plus, being an HR Director enables her to bring practical knowledge from the corporate world to her students. I love that.In this episode, after a brief story Melanie tells about declining her mom's calls so she could get a much-needed break from kids, we discuss a Youtube video where a grandmother lectures college students on "texting etiquette."I didn't realize when I mentioned the lecture that it was Melanie's mom in the video, Ms. Mary. A few examples in the video were LOL funny. One hilarious instance was when Ms. Mary encouraged students to be mindful of how a text is going to be received. To illustrate her point, she told a story of receiving a text from her sister, "T," that said, "I'm in the hospital."Immediately, Ms. Mary called T's workplace to find out when she left [for the hospital], because she presumed her sister wouldn't answer the cell phone she just texted her from [if she's in the hospital].But when Ms. Mary called T's workplace, her sister answered the phone. So Ms. Mary said to her, "Hey T, I thought you were in the hospital."That's when T told Ms. Mary to have a closer look at the text—what she'd actually sent was a screenshot [of someone else's text to her]. She was simply sharing news that someone they knew was in the hospital.The texting etiquette lesson was this. Be careful sending texts, because you don't know how your text is going to be received. Meanwhile, I'm rolling on the laughing floor, and said to Melanie, "That's something my mom would do."So that's how the episode begins. Then we get into advice for sending emails in a professional setting. Great examples shared in the video (and on this episode). Additionally, Melanie & Ms. Mary provide a helpful list of words not to be used in the workplace.Melanie & I also chat about how she prepares her students for the real world. She says they do face-to-face and Zoom mock interviews, which she records so the class can watch.Students hate mock interviews, at least at-first. But later Melanie gets so many "Thank You" emails because her students say role-playing in class helped them to land their dream job.Come to think of it. My favorite professor when I was in school had us role-play as part of the final exam. Dr. Chris Cox, former De

How to Nail Your Next Job Interview, The Big 5 Personality Traits, Intellectual Curiosity with Melanie Boudreaux

Brandt Quick is a Fully Integrated Business Coach (FIBC) & Certified Health Coach. He's also CEO & President of BQuick Athletic Development, a health & fitness company, and CEO & President of BQuick Nutrition, maker of natural sports nutrition energy, endurance, and recovery vitamins/supplements, which aim to improve quality of life.A former Kansas State football player who later transferred to Tulane University, Brandt is currently a triathlete and well-regarded trainer who's competed at very high levels. He brings practical experience & knowledge not just to athletes, clients, and businesses, but also to himself & his coaching colleagues.In this episode, Brandt & I discuss author Eckhart Tolle, specifically The Power of Now, a book about the power of “living in the present moment” (vs. dwelling on the past or trying to figure out what the future will look like). Brandt believes Tolle's done a great job simplifying concepts so that the lay reader can understand what he’s saying and hopefully implement his ideas in their own life.We also discuss each of the first 6 rules from Jordan Peterson's book: 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos. For example, I ask Brandt what "Stand up straight with your shoulders back" means to him. This leads to a discussion about dominance hierarchies and how to move up in the "pecking order."Brandt discusses his Catholic upbringing. He was baptized and confirmed Catholic. He recalls going to church every Sunday as a kid, and thought Catholic mass was the most boring thing in the world. It wasn’t until Brandt went to Jesuit High School in New Orleans that he experienced "an amazing faithful transformation," crediting his Jesuit education for teaching him to be a "free-thinker."Great conversation with a high-caliber guest. BIG THANKS to Phillip Clement for recommending Brandt. Any expectations far surpassed!Hope listeners learn as much as I did.

6 Rules for Life, The Delusion of Time & Thoughts on God with Brandt Quick

My guest is Richard Cuicchi. He's a New Orleans baseball historian and the founder of the Metro New Orleans Area Baseball Player Database. Born in Shaw, MS, he has spent most of his adult life in New Orleans, and says he's now a true "New Orleanian."After graduating from Mississippi State University, Richard came to New Orleans to work for the local utility in IT. As a husband & father of four, he took the traditional route to retirement. That is, 40 years of living within his means, staying out of debt and diligently contributing to a 401K.After retiring in 2011, he wrote his first book, Family Ties: A Comprehensive Collection of Facts and Trivia About Baseball's Relatives, which constitutes 20 years of research about baseball’s family relationships. He also started doing research and writing for SABR (Society for American Baseball Research), contributing to sports-related websites and a few magazines.Additionally, he maintains The Tenth Inning website, which contains all his research, writings, and baseball interests.In this episode, we talk about how he first started writing. Richard used to keep various lists of things about baseball—one in-particular about families piqued his interest. Once he realized just how much baseball family ties information he had, he started trying to put it in writing, which is what eventually led him to self-publishing his first book.We also discuss what led him to write about my grandfather, John “Fats” Dantonio. A SABR member asked him to do a piece on "Fats" as part of a book on "replacement players" during World War II. He says that was the first time he'd written a story about any baseball player.If you love baseball, this episode is for you!

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