After The Bell RINGS

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Welcome to the "After the Bell RINGS" podcast. Here I chronicle my journey of building an after school program from 3 to 300. Plus interviews and stories of inspiration from youth programs around the world.

Micah BARNES

  • Oct 23, 2019 LATEST EPISODE
  • infrequent NEW EPISODES
  • 20m AVG DURATION
  • 66 EPISODES


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Latest episodes from After The Bell RINGS

What do you do when the rules of the game change?

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2019 8:55


I recently had a meeting with some of my executives who want me to take my youth program in a direction that I don't agree with. This meeting made me seriously re-think the way I do my job and, honestly, if I want to do it there.

Breakthroughs at Open Mic Night

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2019 8:58


One kid openly tells his brother to stop bullying him. Another kid knocks it out the park his first time to the stage.

Hey Mr. Micah!

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2019 8:26


My upcoming web series answers your questions and more. Submit your questions on IG @ micah_db

Where I find program ideas

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2019 13:13


When I get into a rut, here's my go-to place to find ideas for events and activities.

I hated school ✍

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2019 17:12


While leading a group of young leaders, I have to learn how each of them learns - and, trust me, they're not all the same. This philosophy helped me get to know the students. That and... listening. This episode comes from Chapter 8 of my book "Who Stole My Future?"

I bankrupt a 14-year-old student. Oops!

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2019 35:07


One of the most impactful things I've done recently was attend a budgeting and life skills workshop hosted by United Way. HS students were given a life card. They went around the room and patronized different booths, according to what they're life card said. I had the "Fun Stuff" booth - trips, dancing, gym, and other recreational activities. Their job was to purchase these things while staying within their budget. . I kinda feel guilty cuz I sold one teen into buying 2 trips to London and Hawaii worth about $2,700 total. HE WENT BANKRUPT. I talk about how self-esteem plays a role in why we buy stuff we can't afford.

The lesson I'll never forget

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2019 16:25


When you talk bad about yourself, psychologists called it destructive self-talk. When you say good things, it's called constructive self-talk. I got a call from a friend, whose self-talk played a huge role in her life and death. Hear how I encourage teens in my youth organization to reframe their perspective and see "negative" experiences as positive ones.

The Lonely Kid

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2019 25:38


A personal experience with the "lonely kid" in Drone Camp - and then a book by a plastic surgeon - helped me realize why you have insecurities.

The Accident

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2019 37:18


A group of 4th & 5th graders can NOW tell their friends and family, "I'm an author." Hear the stories they told in their book (COMING SOON on Amazon!) and my process of teaching them how to write a book in 6 hours!

I mean business

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2019 12:52


In dealing with youth - and my life, for that matter, I'm drawing a line in the sand.

What would you do?

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2019 4:59


What would you do if your boss and your clients had conflicting demands?

Drone collision

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2019 42:23


What happened when a drone collided with my face, and the comment of the "class clown".

Summer Camp LIVE

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2019 23:31


Hear LIVE segments of my Summer Drone Camp and Young Authors Camp.

Multiplying Your Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2019 20:36


Here's how you can create multiple podcast episodes from one event. Plus a valuable tip about events that fail.

Run businesses like families

Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2019 15:57


I heard one of my favorite entrepreneurs advise a businessman to approach his business like he'd approach his family. So it made me rethink my strategy in developing my youth program. It gave me an idea I'm excited to put in place!

Going Broke!

Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2019 46:44


Listen up for a quick tool to pricing your programs accurately. Now, you can provide value to your clients and make money. Plus, cooking classes for kids who go hungry, and more!

Micah goes to a Jail

Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2019 11:24


It breaks my heart to see young kids in jail, especially when some aren't even in high school yet. I got a chance to enter a juvenile detention center and expose teens to a life of hope outside those gray walls.

Average to Awesome

Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2019 50:32


I spoke with award-winning author and National speaker Tim Bowers about the importance of one's environment, leaving a legacy, and a lot more messages for our youth!

Dude, where's my podcast?

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2019 18:12


Author and international speaker Leila Khan completely took over my podcast. And I want it back!

Hurry up and FAIL!

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2019 12:44


Have you ever had someone who kicked you when you were down? I tell the story of a Reverend and a counselor who did this to his own granddaughter.

The Best $40 I've spent

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2019 32:37


I went to a career fair at a local high school and, instead of telling one student about my job, he made $40 off me. But it may have been the best $40 I've spent in 2019.

Who is Micah Barnes?

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2019 28:53


My story started as an attempt to prevent crime in my neighborhood, but I found out there's a bigger problem.

Walking up on strangers

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2019 17:07


Throwback episode from 2017 after I'd quit my job to work on my book. I randomly walked up to a lady at a Florida park. This was the conversation we had.

Knowledge Over Grades

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2019 66:26


Math Doctor Latreil Jackson has found a cure that nearly every teacher and student suffers from - how to make math simple and fun. Plus, Latreil walks me through an impromptu tutoring session.

Girls Who Fight

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2019 32:44


Hear the story behind former MMA Fighter Gemma Sheehan's transition from fighting to teaching young girls how to fight. She uses fighting to teach girls assertiveness, self-confidence, and MORE!

Spilling my program secrets

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2019 27:24


Have you ever ordered pizza and the delivery guy charged more money than you had? This funny story turned into a program idea.

Good role models

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2019 10:02


A lot of kids either don't have role models or don't know what a role model is.

Listen if your program needs resources

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2019 7:36


One weekness of my program was transportation. I found the solution in the people around me.

Run families like businesses

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2019 82:02


If you're a parent you need to hear this. I talked to the M.A.D.I.S.E.L group's Sandra Johnson. She specializes in family emotional wellness. Listen to the interesting points she makes on family power struggles and running our families like we run our businesses.

More than just a game

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2019 55:58


Hear one man's story of teaching character to kids from India and how he's using basketball as the vehicle.

Is this how love works?

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2019 38:23


Ashley Bendiksen is a domestic violence survivor and advocate for the prevention of dating violence, sexual assault, and bullying. She has a special message for young girls and boys. Take notes.

Gifted & Purposed

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2019 55:26


Hear how this Far Rockaway, Queens, NY actor uses improv activities to teach powerful life lessons to high school students. Dayo Olatokun is the founder of the Gifted & Purposed Alliance, Inc.

Code Ninjas

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2019 33:20


I spoke with Center Directors Ryan Schaffer and Annie Duong from Wellesley, Massachusetts about how they get kids excited about walking into their dojos. Plus, hear how coding helps kids build better relationships with their parents.

New year, new format

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2019 6:03


I'm adding more guests, more value, more stories, and more inspiration to this NEW season of my podcast. Just MORE MORE MORE!!! Heres a taste of the new menu.

The playbook for 2019

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2018 17:57


From TV appearances to museum exhibits, here's what we have in store for 2019.

The reset button

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2018 13:09


"If there are no enemies within, the enemies outside can do you no harm."

The right environment

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2018 29:13


Look around your home, your office, or the place you raise your kids (or host your after school program). Does your environment support your success? Do the people around you support your success? If not, do this.

Life and Death: A Teen Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2018 17:26


Teen brothers in my after school program did a fun, impromptu podcast with an educational twist.

Everybody loves Kung Fu fighting

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2018 9:47


I can't get these kids to work out but King Fu can.

Protecting your kids from abuse

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2018 32:28


Cases of abuse can be all around you whether you see them or not. These red flags I encountered stunned me and could have ended up badly.

Shut down

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2018 24:57


They shut down our smoothie bar, but they didn't shut us up.

No more strawberries

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2018 8:27


When plan A doesn't work, you have to go to plan B. And sometimes you must employ plans C and D.

Eventually the tree will fall

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2018 9:55


My #1 goal in my professional life is to ignite a fire and empower a group of teens. My #2 goal is to help you build up your teens. I do this the same way you chop down a tree... Bit by bit. Eventually that tree will fall.

5 FREE Marketing Moves

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2018 10:10


We use several FREE Marketing Moves and Tactics for our smoothie bar. Here are 5 that have worked for us. Hint: One is illustrated in the episode picture.

You give up too easily

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2018 19:04


One of my teens has a tendency to give up easily on tasks. I saw an Instagram post that inspired me to help him not give up on his dreams... using a cool Halloween theme.

NEW programs that work

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2018 10:23


This new format is designed to keep kids engaged no matter what their schedule or their interest.

Who cares if they don't buy a smoothie.

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2018 7:29


Become part of the community. Your relationship with the community goes way farther than just a $5 smoothie.

Consistency is key!

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2018 8:52


One little girl brought a smile to my face when she zoomed by our stand as we were closing. She yelled to her mom, "I want a Mango Tango!" Because we've been consistent in our schedule and our products, we're building relationships with members and guests.

Part 2: Inside the mind of a teenager

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2018 6:31


I've just made my program 10x better simply by asking my Teen Leader what he wants to do. His answer was simple but impactful.

Let's play catch

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2018 16:37


Every paremt or mentor has a fav mentoring story. Here's mine. A huge boost in self-esteem came from a simple game of catch.

What is having a good father like?

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2018 11:09


Somebody posted this question on Quora. I chose to use a current experience to answer the question. I recently started coaching for the first time, but it felt like I'd done it 100s of times before.

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