Adding Context

Joe Hannan is a writer, journalist, and consultant hunting for the next story to tell or lesson to learn. He's also a husband, father, and martial artist. As a writer, he wakes up and tries to write better than he did the day before. Journalistically, you'll find him asking questions and writing stories about health, medicine, cybersecurity, social undercurrents, and how human beings develop. As a consultant, he takes all that he learns along the way and funnels it into peak performance, helping people and organizations operate at their highest levels. Martial arts are his playground for embodying and training these lessons and principles, specifically Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, in which he is a black belt. Here you can find Joe's BJJ meditations podcast, Instagram, and Substack

Brandon Foss grew up in the northeastern part of the U.S and is a man of experiences. He left home at 18 and has been living and learning. We spoke about his early upbringing and how that directed him as an adult. Branson is also a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. We spoke about how his journey through the martial art has transformed him from who he was about 8 years ago to the man he is now.

Jess Zafarris is many things. An author, a lover of words, an editor, and so much more. She recently released “Words from Hell,” a book on the origins of words. Written with a blend of fact and snark, it is highly improbable for you to finish it without laughing and coming away with a new respect for both our more common and more obscure words. We covered a spectrum of words from the subdued words like shenanigans to the more colorful words, which I won't mention here, and how their usage varies around the world.  You can find her on all the socials through here.

Scott Beuerlein went from working for Delta Airlines to turning his hobby and passion into a new career as the Manager of Botanical Outreach and a hortoculturist at the Cincinnati Zoo. He did something many hope they can, to live by the adage, “If you find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” We spoke about his adoration for all things botany, his love of the environment, and how we can both help the planet while making it more pleasing to the eye.  You see his labor of love all around the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, read his writings and rants at hortmag.com, gardenrant.com, and scottbeuerlein.com.

Karen Simmons CEO/Founder of Autism Today Foundation, author of several books including Chicken Soup for the Soul: Children with Special Needs. She has been on a mission crossing three decades in advancing awareness and strategies for individuals that are neurodiverse and/or on the Autism spectrum. We spoke about what drove her into becoming an advocate (being the mother of an autistic child) and how she continually adapts to the changes in her mission.    She partnered with Lindsey Duncan to develop natural supplements for nuerodiverse people. If you want to see more of what she has accomplished and what she is working on currently, please visit her site or  autismtoday.com and of course neuronutritionals.com. 

Jordan Waggoner is a just a guy from rural Minnesota, with a little bit of property and some horses. He, to his surprise, accidently gathered nearly half a million followers on TikTok. His content of choice? Pretty much everything. Science? Check. Random stories? Check. History? Check. He just puts his thoughts out to the world and the people like it.  Please check out his content and his website, https://linktr.ee/off_jawaggon.

We are back! Our apologies for the extended hiatus. We return with a “2-fer.” This episode I spoke to Jean Dvorak and Vivian Scavo, two women I have known for many years. Two women who are true educators. Two women who helped me try to grasp the current state of education. Given headlines across the nation of hyperbolic nonsense and cringe worthy anti-intellectualism, I wanted to talk to people who actually are in the classroom. As the episode title says, we nicked the tip of the iceberg.

This episode's guest is DeTravis Bethea. Detravius is an old friend, we both “took the scenic route” after high school. He is an attorney, business coach, public speaker, entrepreneur, educator, and more these days. DeTravius moved to my hometown in 8th grade, after moving 5 times during his K-8th years! He is living proof people are more than their class rank or GPA in school. He shows that with personal drive, you can become what you envision in your mind. His vast experiences and career changes have given him insight that he shares with others. If you are in need of an attorney or some advice on how to start a business the right way, you can reach him at TheBethea.com

Debbie Peterson's story reads like some dark noir script from the '30s. Full of intrigue, shady backroom deals, and death, possibly murder?! Debbie is, like me, a wearer of many hats. Of her many ventures in life, she is a mother, a 2X Best Selling Author, a well-established entrepreneur, an orator, an atypical politician, an educator, and just a pleasant person to chat with! Check out her link tree for all her socials, books, podcast, and more! linktr.ee/DebbiePeterson.com

We happily welcome back Professor Stephen Wermiel. Prof. Wermiel is a professor of law and the history of the U.S. Supreme Court. When we last had him as a guest, we spoke about the Court's history, nuances regarding its workings, and some of the hotter topics at the time. Well, a lot has happened since his first appearance. In this chat, we discussed recent additions and decisions to and by the SCOTUS.

Charles Chadwick is a former college student who experienced the challenges many others face in these times of predatory college lending. He made the decision to use his trials to help others. Charles has two degrees but he also learned a trade before going to college.    He believes that learning a trade can add more value given today's very competitive job market as it adds marketable and tangible skills to one's resume. Careers like Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC and other trades typically survive weak economies and recessions which allows for flexibility and possibly less stress in volatile employment climates. They give more job security by performing essential services that the world needs at all times.  The author of two books, “Chadwick's College Checklist 2 Steps W/Tips On How To Cut College Costs” and “Chadwick's Cultivated Circumstances: Experience Is Sometimes Priceless.” Check them out and all he has to offer at chadwicksexperiences.com.

Nick Klingensmith has received “bad news” more than he cares to count. Obstacles seem to find a way of appearing before him, although now, they more often come on his terms. Battling cancer four times, type-1 diabetes, a litany of physical injuries including herniated discs and torn chest ligaments, and the demons of alcoholism, he shifted his perspective from that of a victim long ago. Now he faces self-imposed challenges of Spartan races and marathons, yes, THOSE marathons. Balancing all the nuances of managing his medical conditions with the needs required to endure 26.1-mile runs or a slew of runs that culminated in 127 miles in 6 weeks, Nick does not do it for the personal accolades, he does it to show that you should not allow yourself to be defined by you medical or mental health issues, or allow those circumstances to be your limitations. You are only a victim of your situation if you allow yourself to be. Pick up a copy of his incredible story, “Through the Fire” on Amazon. You can also follow his treks through the Spartan courses and marathons on Instagram or Twitter.

Roger Smith is the “unlikely leader.” His life story is full of peaks and valleys, an incredible mix of productivity and addiction, and a turnaround worthy of a Hallmark movie. From a high school dropout to a CEO, something that seems to be an essential element for some of the most successful people like “Auntie Anne” Beiler and Ralph Lauren. Roger has taken the less-than-orthodox lessons he learned on the streets and intertwined them with the more polished lessons from his mentors to become the CEO of two large insurance companies. He shares his story and thoughts on the qualities and practices he has employed and trained over his career to lead his companies to success. Now, with a little more time on his hands, he has written a new book, “The Most Unlikely Leader: An Unbelievable story from GED to CEO.” For more from Roger, visit his website for his social media links, appearances, and more.

Jackie London is a Registered Dietitian (RD), a New York State Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist (CDN), an author, and the former head of Nutrition & Wellness for Weight Watchers, these are just some of her titles. We spoke about a number of aspects of personal health and nutrition. Given her extensive background, she shared her knowledge on ways we can improve our health by small changes to what we eat. We spoke about some of the “fad” and restrictive dieting methods. Check out her social media contacts for more information at:   Website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

Marlene Sharp hails from the entertainment town of New Orleans. After college, she wanted a change of pace, so she headed out west to LA, for a different kind of entertainment. In the time she has spent building her resume, she has held several positions in the gaming and video industries. She has worked for Sega of America in a number of production capacities, most notably developing SONIC the Hedgehog from a game to an animated series and movies. She is currently the head of Pink Poodle Productions and the Head of IP Strategy and Acquisitions for Rainshine Entertainment. We chatted about her path into the entertainment industry and some of the wide array of jobs involved in making movies. You can follow all of her adventures through her Linktree.

Geoffrey D. Calhoun is an award-winning screenwriter. When not writing his own original scripts, he is a sought-after consultant and re-writer. He also enjoys teaching newer writers how to sharpen their skills in storytelling. Through his seminars, his book, and his podcast, he explores all elements of narrative storytelling to help writers create pitch-ready scripts. Tune in to hear about his experiences in the industry and some nuggets of knowledge he has to share.

Nick Loper is an author, entrepreneur, and a lifelong student in the game of business. Through his personal experiences, he has amassed a nuanced knowledge of how to properly navigate the side hustle. He shares his ideas and thoughts on his website, his podcast, in his TED talk, in his books. He thrives on helping people better understand the “Side Hustle” and how to help choose the right for them. The “gig economy” is growing exponentially and people are looking for ways to become more financially stable. Nick has some wise words to share.

Melanie Gibson is a martial artist and an author among her many titles. She has been to some dark places, as many of us have. She shares her journey from her “madness” in her book, “Kicking and Screaming: a Memoir of Madness and Martial Arts. She wants to use her experiences and the methods she employed to get to a better, healthier place to help others. We spoke about the slow deteriorating stigma that envelopes many aspects of mental health, the struggles many have with finding adequate help, and some less conventional ways to help course-correct to a better, happier person. Check out her link tree for all the ways to follow and see what she is up to, including her long-running blog (Littleblackbelt) and her podcast, Movie Pain or Pleasure?

Dan Henk is a talented, multi-medium artist. Raised under a conservative roof, he grew into a punk rockin' tattoo artist. His well-traveled life has provided him with a wealth of experiences and traumas that come with being human. Dan is a survivor of many obstacles including cycling accidents, being stabbed, and brain cancer. Dan is a painter, an illustrator, a tattoo artist, an author, and much more. Find his various works on his IG, Twitter, or his Website.

David Fishof is a walking example of a self-made success story. From the Catskills to Los Angeles and around the world, he has been the guy behind the scenes. He is an entertainment architect that knows how to put together not just a show, but all-out tours. He revived groups like the Monkees and the Association with sensational tours. He has represented athletes as an agent on the side of being a music promoter. He is not just there for the musicians, he is a life changer. He founded the Rock n' Roll Fantasy camp where everyday musicians get to work with and learn from their favorite musicians. Icons of rock from Roger Daltrey and Alice Cooper to Kiss and the Eagles to Vernon Reid and Slash, these masters of their instruments share stories and techniques while changing lives forever.

Ezra Dyer is a writer for Hearst Publications covering automotive news. A career that began as a humorist for The Improper Bostonian has transformed into a career of traveling and test driving a broad spectrum of vehicles. Covering everything from supercars, like Bugattis, to daily commuters like Dodge Caravans, to midnight cannonball-esque drives to Florida, to clandestine meetings with other writers to discuss the newest models. Check out Ezra's work for Car & Driver and follow his adventures in writing and driving @EzraDyer on Twitter and Instagram. 

Capt. Travis Rosbach has experienced a lot of highs and lows, as a pilot, as a divemaster, and in life. His journey has been long and full of trial by fire. While he has lived in a nomadic style, it has provided him with many opportunities to innovate. Climbing exposed a “problem” and frustration manifested into a tangible solution, the creation of the Hydro-Flask. His newest venture, the Tumalo Group, where he uses his trial and error to help others realize their dreams. Follow his next big adventure on Instagram or contact him on LinkedIn.

Christopher Moore is a New York Times best-selling author. He writes stories that blend mystery, satire, adventure, comedy, and a little horror in a unique and extremely entertaining way. He has penned and released 18 titles since 1992, which include five different series full of hilarity and intrigue. We talked about his childhood, radio DJing, scuba diving, and writing. His latest book, Razzmatazz, is due to be released in May 2022, is a follow-up to Noir. His books are available on Amazon and are where books are sold. Check out his website ChrisMoore.com and follow him on Twitter at @TheAuthorGuy.

Harriet Hunt is a 2-time NASA intern who is working to complete her Aerospace Engineering degree. Recipient of the prestigious Brooke Owens Fellowship, she has had her hands, and mind, on a number of space-related projects. Whether she is working with astronauts or engineers, helping build the next lunar EVA device, or calculating fuel consumption for the Mars entry vehicle, she is sure to have a smile on her face. With a combination of “I'll show you” and a passion for science, she is pursuing the stars in a number of ways. Currently, she is interning at the Goddard Space Flight Center. Follow her journey around the globe and into outer space on her website, Twitter, and Instagram.

This episode I spoke with Pamela Esposito. Pam started T.E.A.L. with her sister about 13 years ago. T.E.A.L. or Tell Every Amazing Lady is an organization that informs, supports, and educates people who are impacted in one way or another by Ovarian Cancer. T.E.A.L. offers many support services to people fighting cancer, their families and caretakers, and the survivors. One of Pam's goals is to make sure every woman is aware of this type of cancer and knows what to look for so it can be detected early. TEAL strives to raise money for expanding their reach and services, and for the continued advancement of medical research in diagnostics and treatments for ovarian cancer. To learn more or see how you can help in your area, visit: www.TellEveryAmazingLady.org. 

Have you ever wondered what the difference between a bartender and a mixologist is? Are they not the same thing? What is this trendy thing “craft” bartending? Enter Adam Brogan, or “Boots” as he affectionately referred, a world-renowned, award-winning bartender. Raised in the pubs of London, he fell in love with the proper craic of a drinking establishment. Now, he writes about and trains people in the beautiful artistry that is bartending. There is so much more to being a bartender than simply serving a beverage, he dives into the details about the tips and tricks he has learned over the years serving around the world. Enjoy Part 2 of our chat and find out more about Adam on his website, and his social media spots on facebook, instagram, twitter, and youtube.

Have you ever wondered what the difference between a bartender and a mixologist is? Are they not the same thing? What is this trendy thing “craft” bartending? Enter Adam Brogan, or “Boots” as he affectionately referred, a world-renowned, award-winning bartender. Raised in the pubs of London, he fell in love with the proper crank of a drinking establishment. Now, he writes about and trains people in the beautiful artistry that is bartending. There is so much more to being a bartender than simply serving a beverage, he dives into the details about the tips and tricks he has learned over the years serving around the world. Enjoy Part 1 of our chat and find out more about Adam on his website, and his social media spots on facebook, instagram, twitter, and youtube.

This episode's conversation was with the iconic Tommy Chong: entertainer, entrepreneur, storyteller. From his early days as a musician to meeting his iconic comedy partner, Tommy has lived a life full of entertainment. We spoke about music, comedy, movies, and his advocacy. He reminisced about being a part of Motown and befriending other icons like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Willie Nelson. For more about what he is up to these days visit his website, TommyChong.com.

In this episode, we dove into the United States Supreme Court with Professor Stephen Wermiel. Prof. Wermiel is a professor of law and the history of the U.S. Supreme Court. His career has revolved around the court and its inner workings for more than 40 years. We spoke about the origins of the court and its function. We also discussed the notion of expanding the court and some of the staple cases that are still relevant today. 

This episode's guest was Captain Paul Watson. From swimming with beavers as a kid to founding two of the most influential conservation and environmental supporting groups, Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd. We spoke about his life at sea, rising through the ranks until he became a captain of his own ship and eventual fleet. Navigating the world in hopes to educate the masses about the importance of caring for and supporting all the sea life on the planet. He was named Time Magazine's Top 20 Environmental Heroes of the 20th Century for his work to save the planet.

This episode's guest is Steve Shwartz. Mr. Shwartz is an expert in artificial intelligence. We spoke about the history, many of the various sub-topics, and possible uses of AI. We parsed out facts from fiction and whether or not AI will take over humanity. Follow him on Twitter here. You can also look out for his new book here. 

This episode was a first for the show, with multiple guests. We spoke with Justin Handlin and Austin Sargent from Crit Academy. The crew from Crit Academy are more than creators and gamers, they are extremely passionate about tabletop gaming. We talked about Dungeon and Dragons while sharing personal perspectives on the game. We discussed their multiple projects and resources from their content publishing to their podcast and more. Sit back and let your mind wander into the realm where your imagination can be the greatest escape from reality.

Lane Rasberry, as his name shows, is a very colorful person with a mission. From Texas to Seattle, to India and back, he is on a quest to better the lives of those in need. We chatted about being a kid in rural Texas to a college student in not-so rural Seattle, editing for Wikipedia, his life goals, and a lot of ways to help a broad spectrum of people. Follow him on his blog or on Twitter.

This episode's guest Rehka Rao is an attorney who specializes in “elderly law.” However, what she does is far more than just assisting with the legal matters of the elderly. She helps people of all ages prepare for the Golden Years. We talk about the importance of retirement and estate planning, as well as the benefits and potential perils of legal guardianship. If you take anything from this episode, it is the importance of getting your affairs in order.

Part 2 of our chat with Deborah Driggs-Gaylord. She has experienced traumas and blessings. While navigating her path in life, she's driven herself to success in her ventures. From dreams of Olympic gold as a kid to modeling for one of the most popular magazines ever to a top insurance agent in California, she's proven two things: she is a strategic risk-taker and she doesn't like being told “No.” Her collection of accolades and accomplishments are long and impressive. More information on her can be found at her Website or her social media accounts: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and IMDB. 

Like all of us, Deborah Driggs-Gaylord has experienced traumas and blessings. While navigating her path in life, she's driven herself to success in her ventures. From dreams of Olympic gold as a kid, to modeling for one of the most popular magazines ever, to a top insurance agent in California, she's proven two things: she is a strategic risk-taker and she does not like being told “No.” Her collection of accolades and accomplishments are long and impressive. More information on her can be found at her Website or her social media accounts: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and IMDB.

This episode's guest, Jessica Cale, and I went on a journey about pirates. Yes, the Golden Age Pirates specifically, with the likes of Blackbeard, Black Sam, Anne Bonny, and Ching Shih (the Pirate Queen). We dispelled some myths and discussed some misconceptions about the considerably progressive pirate life on the high seas. Jessica is a historian, an author, a podcaster, and a blogger. Follow all of her adventures at dirtysexyhistory.com.

In this episode, we dive into ancient Persia. Trevor Culley knows ancient Persia. We chatted about the empires, battles, and lives in the post-iron age era up to the Muslim conquests. We hope you enjoy the little journey into the region that was conquered by Alexander the Great.

Zane Lamprey has traveled the world to learn about various customs, cultures, and culinary delights. He is a man of many hats; an actor, producer, author, comedian, podcaster, entrepreneur, and conservationist to name a few. We talked about his early life, drinking around the world, and windmills over lighthouses. He will be heading out on a stand-up tour across the country soon. Follow him and his ever-growing list of Adv3ntures at his website. You can also follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

Michelle Christo is an interventionist. Motivated by compassion, empathy, and knowledge, she has committed herself to help others who, either they or a loved one, are battling with addiction. We spoke about addiction, the evolution of drug policy reform, and interventions. We also discussed ideas to improve education and awareness. If you or someone you know is in need of her services, contact Michelle at (609) 558-3409, anewwayoflifeservices@gmail.com, or at A New Way of Life Intervention Services.

Stanley Plotkin is an extremely distinguished scientist and educator who specializes in vaccinology and immunology. His brilliant work is responsible for the creation of vaccines for rubella, rabies, rotavirus, cytomegalovirus. We spoke about his long and prolific career. He elaborated on the importance of vaccines and the process of creating them. Some of his published works can be found at PubMed.

John Giusti is a teacher, wrestling coach, and author. We met a few years back coaching our respective middle school teams in a dual meet. By day he teaches Language Arts, pre-pandemic he coached wrestling for the Lawrence (NJ) Middle School. He decided to write his book, Coaching Middle School Wrestling: 20 Power Moves, as a means to help coaches who are just getting started or to help polish or add some perspective for seasoned coaches. We chatted about how wrestling affected our lives, our roles as coaches and mentors, and the process he went through to write the book.

In this episode, I spoke to Tom Shinn. “Shinn” is the former radio personality from WSPT, a top-rated music station whose audience spans Central New Jersey and the Greater Philadelphia region. We spoke about his time there from starting as a tech to hosting the extremely popular night show, and a host of other hats he wore there. We chatted about his memories of the station, coworkers, and events of the past. We also talked about his family and current methods of passing the time as well as where the future may lead.

Andrew Froening is an independent filmmaker and multi-disciplined artist. We spoke about his creative origins, processes, and a number of his projects. Andrew talked about the importance of collaboration and chemistry among artists is for any medium. Follow him and his various pieces of art at his website: Frovideo, YouTube, Instagram, or Artpal.

Mark Milbrod knows the importance of life insurance. We spoke about the importance of proper insurance planning and how people can change their perspective to see insurance as a risk management tool to mitigate risks and potential burdens on loved ones. We chatted about how COVID has impacted the industry. For more information check out, Lifehappens.org. To contact Mark, he can be reached at (908-770-7367) or at markm@silvershieldadvisors.com

Eric Christiansen is a lot of things, a documentarian is one. He has produced, directed, and written a number of award-winning commercials and documentaries. His documentaries are about healing from the various traumas, born out of his own personal experiences. We chatted about the industry, hope, and Pee-Wee Herman. Check out his up-coming documentary, “unMASKing Hope” set to be released on 9-11-21. You can also follow him on Instagram at @unmaskinghope or check out his work here. You can check out the trailer to “unMasking” here. 

Cassie and Rigel are relationship experts and fellow podcasters. They help people build “extraordinary relationships in an ordinary world.” We talked about what they do and why it’s important. We also spoke about the pillars of a great relationship, and how the core components work for any type of relationship. Visit their website: Touch of Flavor and follow them on IG: a touch of flavor.

Josh ThomasMMA CoachWriter & Podcast Host Josh Thomas is a Mixed Martial Arts coach, former fighter, and a fellow wrestler and podcaster. We spoke about his life, life lessons from wrestling, fighting in a cage, and the community podcasting can bring. You can follow him at the links below for his shows. IG:@thetakedownpodcast@theweeklyforecast@roshambophotoshttps://linktr.ee/Thomasjawwsh Apple Podcasts:The Weekly ForecastThe Takedown

Sean Kipe is a musician and storyteller. He narrates the podcast, “ In the Red Clay,” about the Georgia Dixie Mafia. We spoke about his music career, his transition from the stage to behind the camera, and the by chance meeting that led him to an incredible story about a larger-than-life man. Enjoy the conversation and check out “In The Red Clay.”  Links: Twitter: @SeanKipe IG: @Sean.kipe In the Red Clay Podcast: In the Red Clay

This episode’s guest was Jesse Cramer. Jesse is an engineer, a writer, and knows a thing or two about personal financing. We spoke at length about personal finance, our ideas of how to improve various aspects of the burdens of being an adult, and chickens. Jesse runs an award-winning blog (www.bestinterest.blog) that has been featured on a number of financial sources. He is also on Twitter at @BestInterest_JC or on Reddit at u/BestInterestDotBlog.

This episode’s guests are Tyler and his mother, Marie Haney. Tyler has navigated life with Asperger’s Syndrome. Marie, along with her husband, Tyler, and few friends opened the Hope Learning Center. A place where young adults with Asperger’s could go to develop the skills they need to maneuver through their journey of life. We talked about some of the hurdles Tyler and Marie have faced and the skills they help provide the center’s participants. I urge you to visit them on their social media pages (see links below) to see the amazing mission they are on!        FB: Hope Learning Center at Sunset Ridge Farm PerkasieIG: Hope Learning Center Perkasie Hopelearningcenterperkasie.org