Aloha Friday Podcast

To celebrate the Fourth of July, meet Dennis Gilbert, a real life Wolverine who recovered from the mental, emotional and physical results of war. His involvement of the covert missions of Iraq are now told in a the recently published book “The Warriors of Anbar: The Marines Who Crushed Al-Qaeda--the Greatest Untold Story of the Iraq War” by Ed Darack. While his experience is covered in the book, we uncovered the more vulnerable issues of transition out of war mindset, difficulties of facing civilian life after the military and the physical constraints of metal replacing parts of your body. Dennis touches on life after the secret ops, how he ended up in the White House and what life looks like now as a veteran in Oahu, HI.

On today's Aloha Friday Podcast Attorney Marcus Landsberg and Mom/Model Naomi Cooper-Christensen talk to Will Espero about Homelessness, Hawaii's Recovery from the Covid19 Shutdown, as well as the tragedy in Minnesota and police reform here in Oahu.Will Espero is a 19 year senator and legislature, and is currently a candidate for City Council District 9 on Oahu for the Waipahu, Ewa Beach and Mililani seat. Will does not shy away from the hard questions and we talk about real issues and real solutions with a man who has been in many rooms when decisions were made.https://www.willespero.com 

What does it mean to be from Haiku? Find out in this fun and relaxed episode.We talk to Ashley Cooper, the only sister of co-host Naomi Cooper Christensen. She tells us what life was like growing up on the North Shore of Maui, discusses picking up hitchhikers, and wearing uniforms in school. Ashley talks about her travels through Europe and Asia and discusses the surprise presents that she brought back for Naomi.

Becky Gardner needs to change the world. She is a first time candidate for Hawaii State House in District 20. This district includes St. Louis Heights, Palolo, Manalani Heights, Wilhelmina Rise and Kaimuki. A Lawyer, a civil servant, a single mom, and a businesswoman, a half-Filipino progressive minded candidate, Becky talks to Attorney Marcus Landsberg and Mom/Model Naomi Cooper Christensen about what moved her to make the huge leap to run for office.What can she solve on the first day, what motivates her, and what we can do to support all the people of Hawaii are all covered in this episode!For more information about Becky, check: https://www.beckygardnerhawaii.comand vote@beckygardnerhawaii.com   

Is your destiny is already written? Rea Fox is gifted intuitively but also holds the key to help people understand their purpose in life through a set of cards and a “system.” No, this is not Tarot cards, but instead the use of the classic solitaire cards of red and black suits. Are the hands you are dealt able to be played well or are we subjected to energies beyond our control? Naomi tells some ironic coincidences that came about after Rea’s readings! Find out for yourself!

Attorney Marcus Landsberg and Mom/Model Naomi Cooper Christensen haven’t spoken for a minute since the end of the first season of the Aloha Friday Podcast. Hear the update on where we’ve been and what we’ve been doing since the end of the first season. How are we dealing with Covid? Who moved? How’re the kids dealing?Just a short taster announcing the new second season with some teases of who to expect on the second season!

Attorney Marcus Landsberg and Mom/Model Naomi Cooper-Christensen were moved by the recent events in our nation and wanted to do what we could to help. To contribute to the conversation we asked two of our African-American friends to open up to us, and let us look into their lives and experiences to see what we don't know and what we should know. Now, while our nation is experiencing this reckoning with its past, join us for this voyeuristic look into lives and experiences many people never have the opportunity to explore.Guests Evans Smith and Ronald Betts share from the heart their experiences growing up Black in the American south and why they find Hawaii so much different. Finally we close with what steps to take next, how do we break the cycle.

Attorney Marcus Landsberg considers himself a Hana Kimura fan. Her untimely passing affected him in a way he was prepared for, the way the passing of Kobe Bryant affected so many others. In today's conversation with mom/model Naomi Cooper-Christensen we discuss how we make sense of this. What can we learn from the untimely suicide of a person just on the cusp of life to make sure we can live as better people.In the first half we get a little deeper into the history of Hana Kimura on the Terrace House TV show. Then we start discussing how we process this and what we take away from this. Finally I discuss what three things I plan to do in the future, just in case anyone in my circle wrestles with these thoughts or urges - it will not be bulletproof, but it will be more than I'm doing now.

Fair’s fair and Mom/Model Naomi Cooper Christensen interviews lawyer Marcus Landsberg about how he became a sponsor in the Honolulu Hawaii Comedy scene. Naomi gets Marcus to open up about the High School Musical he performed in and some High School Drama Nerd jokes are made. This transitions into his time as a fraternity president on the campus of the University of Arkansas, and one particular night when his fraternity went to another house to challenge them to a full-on gang fight. (Maybe this isn't the episode we should publish if I am trying to get people to take me serious as an attorney.)

This is our last episode! Lee Huffman of Bald Thoughts comes on the show to talk about how walked out on his job in corporate finance and started supporting his family by traveling the world and writing about it. Lee teaches how to use credit card points and miles to travel with free flights, hotels, and all types of amenities.Eighteen minutes in we dig deeper and Lee starts talking about how his father’s passing triggered him to make the jump to become a travel writer and podcaster specializing in world travel. From this we move into the importance of “presence” in parenthood, the difference of living between Nashville and Los Angeles, and the importance of being the “center of your web” in business networking.At about 32 minutes in, we take a hard left turn and Lee allows us to reminisce about a couple different Fraternity parties he would have thrown at Phi Kappa Tau - Fullerton in the late 90’s and we revisit some old stories, well outside the statute of limitations. Finally, we rely on Lee’s podcasting experience and ask him what we can do to make the Aloha Friday Podcast better. Bentonville, Arkansas makes a surprise appearanceAnd you heard that right, this is our last podcast… of this season. We heard from Lee, but we also want to hear from you! What would YOU like to hear differently next season? Less Marcus? More Naomi? More actresses? More comedians? More old stories? More news? We know what we want to change, tell us what YOU’D like to hear! Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and COMMENT on our podcast to get notification when we start producing Season 2!Some of the links mentioned by Lee Huffman:* CashbackMonitor.com - get rewards on online shopping* BaldThoughts.com/dosh - additional cash back from credit cards at participating retailers and restaurants* BaldThoughts.com - miles and points blog - reviews of credit cards, flights/hotels, and products* WeTravelThere.com - weekly travel podcast; 30 minutes interview that come out every Monday* BaldThoughts.com/freecourse - free 7-day email course to show how to take your dream vacation for less

Chaplain Anthony Silano tells us what happens when a chaplain walks into a bar. This seminary graduate who does comedy talks to Attorney Marcus Landsberg and Mom/Model Naomi Cooper Christensen about the two sides of his life. We start with stories from the life of an up-and-coming Hawaii based comedian. From his time performing weddings Anthony tells the story of the greatest Jewish wedding he ever got to perform. Finally, before we close, things get a little serious as Anthony draws on his background of listening, and tells us what he thinks we know about human connection in this time of COVID19. He shares the three steps he takes to comfort the families of those in the process of losing a loved one by “being a friend and not a fixer.”You can get the latest on his stand-up, his web series Drive By Blessing, and his punk & ska band reunions at https://www.anthonysilano.com. He’s also on the Facebook and Instagram @asilano”

TJ Thompson is the Godfather of Mixed Martial Arts in Hawaii, so when he comes to talk to hosts Attorney Marcus Landsberg and Mom/Model Naomi Cooper Christensen about his peaks and valleys, we immediately ask him about his experience dancer for dollars through Chippendale’s and Playgirl magazine. He tells us how he drove through the bread basket of America, taking his clothes off for money. He shares about 90's Oahu by discussing Fast Eddie’s in Kailua, Gussie L’amour’s, Superbrawl and IconSport.In the shadow of the early days of UFC fights, when two tough guys pounded each other for minimal profit, TJ started promoting massive cards. TJ went from losing one hundred thousand dollars in the fight game, to selling out fifty-seven straight shows and selling his company for Six-point-two million dollars - and how that money was all gone in two months. Strap in for the ride that is From Male Dancer to MMA Godfather - the TJ Thompson Story

Aaron Pughes is a founder and partner at Downstage Honolulu, a new theatre opening in Honolulu, Hawaii’s Chinatown across from Little Village. Aaron brings his relaxed slow burn sense of humor to the Aloha Friday Podcast studio as he offers what improv has brought into his life and what he’s learned from teaching it. Hosts Naomi Cooper-Christiansen and Marcus Landsberg get Aaron to explore a little bit of underground history of the Honolulu theatre scene. As he discusses the current plans for the theatre/bar/podcast/classroom Naomi Cooper-Christensen probes deeper about Aaron’s journey as an Improv actor, starting with Laughtrack theatre. He he also shares the planning that went into the design of the new theater and how he became an improv comedy teacher. We close with a special offer for a discount for classes for listeners of the Aloha Friday Podcast.Downstage Honolulu Theater: https://www.facebook.com/downstageHNL/Mr Aaron Presents: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mr-aaron-presents-honoluluImprov in Paradise classes: https://improvinparadise.comThin Fast Improv: http://thinkfastimprov.com

Local Hawaii Comedian Jose Dynamite talks about how COVID19 has changed his life. He discusses with co-hosts Marcus Landsberg and Naomi Cooper-Christensen how much the lack of sports has influenced his daily life. He makes a timely Kathy Kealoha joke. Jose lets us know the top three moments of his comedy career. Including interactions with Augie T, Eddie Griffin, and other comedians in the local community.This is the hardest we’ve laughed since this show started. We hear what he learned from Multi-level marketing. And Jose Dynamite closes by calling out other comedians to be on our show. In this hour long conversion we learn why Jose Dynamite is the exemplar of a professional comedianComedy U: http://www.comedyuhawaii.comAloha Comedy Festival: https://www.alohacomedyfestival.com1st Comedy CD: https://www.amazon.com/Something-Smells-Funny-Jose-Dynamite/dp/B01BCUPUY2Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josedynamite/?hl=en for hot memes.

Stalking is a serious problem. Fernando Pacheco is a man of many gigs. He’s one of the performers in the local ska/punk band “No Villains Left”. Fernando “The Love Machine is a long time Radio DJ you would know as the voice of KPOI. He also runs 808 Green Thumbs, a gardening group. He MCs at a local Luau. He parlayed that into becoming the chair for the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts.  We open with our new feature, the “Portuguese Culture Minute” where Fernando shares an interesting fact about Portuguese history. Mom/Model Naomi Cooper Christensen then explains how she originally became friends with Attorney Marcus Landsberg. But all this is just prelude for Fernando explaining what it’s like to be a victim of stalking. He talks about how a fan became a friend, and then expected that she was more than a friend, including messaging other acquaintances he knew and finding out where he would be and showing up. Listen to how it affected him, how he figured out who it was, and how he finally made the problem end.Personal website: https://fernandothelovemachine.com808 greenthumbs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/808greenthumbs/No Villains Left: https://novillainsleft.comMayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts: http://www.honolulu.gov/moca.html

In response to the question “How would an ordinary guy approach a model” Mom/Model Naomi Cooper Christensen talks about her life coming up as a model, the difference between types of models, and how young women look at men of the world. In this conversation with co-host Marcus Landsberg she answers what attracts her to different men. Is it because he has money? Is there a certain attitude to have? What it was like to be on Wild Wahine Wednesday? She also talks about the least attractive quality some men have. Listen to what she says men should say and do on the initial approach to the most beautiful woman in the room. Do you agree?

Father/Lawyer Marcus Landsberg and Mom/Model Naomi Cooper Christensen discuss their frustrations in Honolulu, Hawaii with the Stay at Home/Shelter in Place order. Marcus voices his frustrations for his children as Naomi discusses solutions and the walls start to close in from the COVID19 Coronavirus. The effects on families with young children under ten is the main concern. Marcus questions who was in the room when this order was written and discusses the four tools police officers have in any situation. As the conversation progresses we move past complaints and emphasize finding solutions and propose a few solutions as well. Please let us know if you agree, or if you have your own, better idea!

Rhonda the Qi-Ninja opens Marcus Landsberg’s eyes about Acupuncture, naturopathic healing and her time studying in China. Naomi Cooper Christensen helps transmit the most basic lesson in how Qi affects the body and acupuncture can affect a person’s emotions and body well-being and what it means to be a natural born empath. By the end all three are growling and singing.

Keikilani Grune is a multitalented model and actress who has been featured in print work, TV and movies. She joins mom/model Naomi Cooper Christensen and Lawyer Marcus Landsberg to discuss her experiences in filmmaking. While most recently being featured on Hawaii 5-0, she decided to take a crack at writing, producing and starring in her own movie. Hear what she's learned from the moviemaking hustle, creator considerations in refining a product, and mistakes that inform moving forward.

Marcus Landsberg and Naomi Cooper Christensen listen to Vanessa Hudgens on the COVID19 Novel Corona virus. Using her thoughts as a springboard they wrestle with what they sacrifice for their families' safety. The Discussion jumps quickly to all the different information we've learned, thoughts on the virus and when it will be too late for Hawaii to course correct if the Virus is as bad as feared. None of our podcasts are complete without triage decisions and compare these decisions to dating.

Marcus Landsberg and Naomi Cooper Christensen welcome Justin Sturdivant to the Show. Justin is a lawyer with a thriving Family Law practice, but on this show we discuss an issue important to all of us - would you spank a child? Join Marcus, Naomi and Justin as they use their own life experiences to reflect upon how they view corporal punishment - and their outlook on it might not be what you expect.