Billy Dees

Graciela Moore is ICF certified, a transcendental hope coach, and author. Graciela also helps HSIP thrive into soul-alignment and is a public speaker. On this episode Graciela talks about hope, the different ways we consider hope, and how important it is in our daily lives. Please listen in for some great insights into personal growth, happiness, and hope! You can find Graciela Moore on Twitter @SoMCoaching https://mobile.twitter.com/somcoaching

Whether you want to improve your content marketing strategy or simply want to build your brand, social media is almost always a major tool in your toolbox. In this episode we are talking with Keith Keller who has been a Twitter strategist since the early days of the platform. Keith discusses how to Amplify Your Message, Build Your Brand, and Create a Community via Twitter and Twitter Spaces. We also ask him about Social Audio, what it is, and how Twitter Spaces approaches the medium of social audio. You can find Keith Keller on Twitter at @KeithKellerhttps://twitter.com/KeithKeller?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

During this episode we are talking about using Twitter and Twitter Spaces for authors. Many of the topics we cover are applicable to any social media or content marketing strategy in general. Our guest is Ruth L. Snyder who is the author of, “Learn Twitter” which is geared toward writers. Ruth is also a speaker and a book coach. You can find Ruth on Twitter at @RuthLSnyder https://mobile.twitter.com/ruthlsnyder

When is a stumble more than a stumble? When is a gaffe more than a bad choice of words? These are tough questions for an aging president. During the past few weeks, the issue of President Biden's mental and physical well-being has begun to be questioned by more than just his political opposition. Can he run in 2024? Is his presidency sustainable through the current term? This commentary doesn't have the answers. However, the analysis does try to provide some perspective regarding the current situation and how we arrived at this point.

Jerry is a writer a humor column for Tribune News Service, which distributes it to papers nationwide and abroad. Jerry is also the author of six books, "Leave It to Boomer," "The Empty Nest Chronicles," "Grandfather Knows Best," "Nini and Poppie's Excellent Adventures," "Every Day Is Saturday" and "One for the Ageless." Jerry has won many awards including seven for humorous writing from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. Jerry maintains a social media presence, has made many TV and radio appearances, is a popular public speaker, and is currently writing a sitcom. You can find Jerry on his blog http://jerryzezima.blogspot.com/ The book is available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09RZXNZZT/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0

Is Journalism, as We Know It, Dead? A question that is often asked. Many have suggested indoctrination as the cause of the demise of journalism. It is true many journalists not only come from the same system, but from the same handful of schools. It is also true that campuses that were once places of exploring many new ideas, are now ideological closed clubs. There is more to consider, however. How do we, the public, take in information and process it? How has our viewing habits and the desire for ratings played a role in what news we are given? These are especially relevant questions considering that it seems everyone is now not only entitled to their own opinions, but their own facts as well.

Some time ago, many years ago actually, I crossed paths with Donna Cavanagh on Twitter. We were both part of the Twittersphere for blogging, humor, and related subject matter. We say “content” now by the way. This was circa 2011 and HumorOutcasts was in its early days. I started doing some writing for the site and most of my audio production at that time was in traditional media forms. Podcasting existed back then but was nowhere near the powerhouse it is today. I was one of the early adopters of podcasting as it was a natural fit for me. Post 2012, podcasting was ramping up as high-ranking politicians were giving interviews and major crime investigations were finding an audience on the medium. Twitter is built for authors and podcasters. Donna, being the consummate book marketing specialist that she is, was one of the publishers who first recognized the connection. This was a great opportunity for me. By the time 2016 rolled around, Donna and I were producing author interviews regularly. I have made some wonderful associations and friends working with the talented group of HO writers. Donna has now written and published a children's book, “Ramo to the Rescue.” The book tells the story of a lifeguard through the lens of a child and is written in poetry style rhymes. The book was inspired by a chance meeting with a lifeguard which Donna describes during her own podcast interview. She also credits many of the people who helped her produce the book including Hannah Farr, who created the illustrations. You can find HumorOutcasts here: https://humoroutcasts.com/

In this episode, the host covers some of his basic principles when interviewing guests who have sensitive subject matter to talk about. This is a bonus episode that was recorded on the Wisdom app. The original commentary has been edited and processed for the podcast format.

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion that some survivors may find triggering. It also contains spoilers regarding the content of the book. On this episode we have Deborah Fezelle, who is the author of, “What's Past is Prologue.” Deborah is a frequent guest of the podcast and a familiar author to many readers. She has an incredible resume in the arts and is a graduate of Juilliard. Deborah has worked as an actress, a director and coach, and as a writer. This book is the latest installment of the Nick McDeare Series. This book, because of its subject-matter, was written to be more of a stand-alone piece than the other McDeare installments. Deborah describes this book as a personal “triumph” because she had to work through her own history of trauma to carry the reader on a similar journey with the characters. It is a very sincere and heartfelt discussion, however, as the trigger warning indicates; it contains mature subject matter. This podcast was produced in conjunction with HumorOutcasts.com, HOPress-Shorehouse Books, and other HO brands and publishing divisions. You can find "What's Past is Prologue" here on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Past-Prologue-Deborah-Fezelle/dp/1737274671

This episode has an interesting mix of topics. Kristy Mickelsen is an author who has been researching a character for her new book, and this character happens to work in the professional wrestling industry. Axel Savage is a professional wrestler who agreed to take part in Kristy's research. Kristy is a kidney cancer and lupus advocate. Axel is an advocate for mental health and addiction recovery. Together, they discuss various aspects of wrestling as part of Kristy's character research and have serious heartfelt discussions about mental health and suicide awareness.

In an unprecedented leak of Supreme Court confidentiality, Politico has obtained what it calls a draft of a majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito that would strike down Roe v. Wade. The reaction in the public and on social media has been, predictably, enormous. On this episode Billy Dees and Jack Casey discuss and speculate about various aspects of the impact of the potential reversal of the landmark decision.

It appears the deal for Elon Musk to purchase Twitter will go through. This has sparked many conversations online and off about billionaires, social media, and free speech. On this episode we explore various aspects of these topics and what some of the changes coming to Twitter may be in the near future.

In this episode we follow up to some of the responses we had to last week's episode about Ukraine and some of the commentary coming from several far-right commentators. We also cover Elon Musk and his attempted purchase of Twitter. Elon tweeted a poll to his followers and other Twitter users in March that asked whether people believed Twitter was protecting free speech. Roughly 70% of the 2 million respondents said “no.”

The United Kingdom's Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, made a surprise visit to Ukraine's capital and met President Volodymyr Zelensky. They were photographed together as they walked through Kyiv's streets sending a powerful and symbolic message to the western world. This meeting happened in the wake of continuing reports of atrocities committed against Ukrainian civilians, including women and children, by Russian forces. These recent events have put added pressure on the United States to more to help Ukraine. The United States has been very cautious not to get involved in a wider conflict. However, with widening reports of more atrocities and plans by Russia to escalate its war efforts, are we about to reach a tipping point whereby inaction is a greater risk to the possibility of the war expanding across the region? This podcast episode discusses aspects of the Ukrainian conflict, how the mere mention of nuclear weapons has become an instrument of fear and terror, and the curious aspect of how certain factions of the extreme right here in America are reluctant to lend full support to Ukraine.

It was the slap heard around the world, quite literally. At the Oscar Ceremonies 2022, actor Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock after he made a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, starring in a movie called “G.I. Jane II,” a reference to Pinkett's baldness. The showbiz shenanigans of this matter have been well covered in traditional and social media. What we wanted to do with this episode is delve a bit into the wide reaction to this event and examine some of the societal norms that have affected public opinion. Our guest cohost is Rashmi Mistry, who is the author of the book, “Confident Resilient Fearless: A Guide to Revival from Within.” Rashmi talks about the impact of gender norms and the importance of having these conversations at schools. Together, we have an objective conversation about toxic masculinity and what expectations society has about different gender roles. You can find out more about our guest, Rashmi Mistry here: https://www.confidentresilientfearless.com/

A former nurse, RaDonda Vaught, was convicted of gross neglect of an impaired adult and negligent homicide on March 25, 2022 after a three-day trial in Nashville, Tennessee. Vaught faced these charges in connection with the killing of Charlene Murphey, who died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in late December 2017 after being administered the incorrect drug. Medical errors are generally handled by professional licensing boards or civil courts. Criminal prosecutions like Vaught's case are very rare. This trial has been closely monitored by nurses and medical professionals across the U.S. because of a strong concern that this conviction could set a precedent for criminalizing medical mistakes.

The big news in sports this past week was that Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texan's was traded to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for various top draft picks. This deal was also big news in the media and social media due to allegations of sexual misconduct by the player. For Deshaun Watson, the deal is worth a whopping $230 million. Criminal charges did not move forward in his cases. However, 22 civil lawsuits are still hanging over his head. Many of these allegations occurred under the pretense of Watson getting massage services. Apparently, warnings about Watson had been circulating in the Houston massage therapy community for a while. Many of these therapists had been sought out on Instagram. This podcast is a conversation with Billy Dees and Erika, who is an advocate for survivors. The discussion covers the reactions on social media and how both Watson's supporters and detractors have voiced their opinions. You can find Erika on https://www.tiktok.com/@erika.with.ak?lang=en

On this episode we have Sarah Dawn, who is an advocate for keloid scarring awareness. Sarah is very active on TikTok and believes her world doesn't evolve around her scars but rather her scars revolve around her world. Sarah is an advocate for fighting the stigma around having scars, and furthermore believes that scars should be part of an overall sense beauty and self-worth. You can find Sarah Dawn on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahdawnofficial?lang=en

On this episode Billy Dees and via remote guest cohost Jack Casey discuss current events in the Ukraine. (This episode was produced Feb. 27, 2022.) Also, the trucker protests in Canada are topics for analysis and opinion.

Our guest on this episode of the Billy Dees Podcast is Emme Fox. She pronounces her name, “M” and is an advocate of love, sexuality, and intimacy. During this interview we cover such subjects as body and sexual awareness, the molds and constructs that society often places on us, and why some people choose to send unsolicited and explicit pictures of private body parts. This episode does contain frank discussions of human sexuality and behavior. You can find Emme on Twitter @emme_fox https://twitter.com/emme_fox

On this episode we are talking about the dynamics of community building or networking. What is your approach? What value do you bring to the spaces you belong to? How do you strategize your content? Is it designed to serve the audience?

This episode is an interview with Kat Satava by Billy Dees and co-host Kristy Mickelsen. Kat Satava is an author focusing on the genres of epic fantasy and supernatural fiction. Kat's first book (in her Witch War Series), "Nightmares & Stars" debuted during December 2021. Kat is currently working on the second book, a five-episode supernatural series "Canton Ghost Town," and a gothic horror short story. Kat has a very strong interest in helping others develop their own voices and stories by running a weekly therapeutic writing group to learn how to process, cope, and communicate through creative writing. Kristy also has questions for the host, Billy Dees. You can find Kat Satava on Twitter @KatSatavaAuthor https://twitter.com/KatSatavaAuthor

Classified as a Comedy/Disaster, I presume they mean a combined comedy and disaster movie not a comical disaster, “Don't Look Up” is a satirical story about two astronomers who go on a media tour to warn the world of an Extinction Level Event in the form of a giant comet speeding toward Earth. Can us earthlings put down our phones long enough to listen? What I feel the movie hits the mark on as well as what I feel it may have missed are the subjects of this episode along with my take on how the space sciences are regarded in these contemporary times.

This episode is an interview with Kristy Mickelsen, a 43-year-old wife and mother, whose passions include her two autistic children, reading and writing. Kristy is the author of the book, “A Christmas to Remember.” Kristy wrote this book based on the real emotions her mother faced when her father passed away from Stage Four Renal Cell Carcinoma. Kristy's goal with writing this book was not only to present a Christmas love story but to bring some cancer awareness about renal cell carcinoma as well as another form of cancer called inflammatory breast cancer. A Christmas to Remember not only talks about what a cancer patient goes through but also the feelings that a spouse goes through after the loss of a loved one. You can find Kristy with her Linktree on Twitter @KristyBooks https://twitter.com/kristybooks

This episode is the first time we tried to use Twitter Spaces as a forum to record a full episode of our podcast. Twitter Spaces is an audio medium allowing for a configuration of hosts, speakers, and listeners. The Space was hosted Thursday January 6, 2022, at 2:00pm EST. Currently, the only way to take part in a Twitter Space is via the Twitter smartphone app. Therefore, the guests sound a bit “phoned-in” but otherwise acceptable. Our guest was Lenora Colarusso, who has been on the podcast numerous times. The first part of the episode covers Lenora and her journey of recovery and well-being. It is followed by snippets from a Question-and-Answer period that followed on the Space. Guests take part from all over the world, which is one of the great things about the Twitter Spaces format.

What does it take to be a good person? The reactions of the public to the recent passing of John Madden and Betty White raises the question as to why these people were universally loved. What about them sets them apart? What qualities of being a good person can we incorporate into our own lives?

The pressures of the holidays are often a source of stress. The events, family gatherings, and gifts along with a myriad of other things can easily bring down someone's mood. This episode discusses some easy and common-sense ways of avoiding the holiday blues.

Is an era of statesmen/women as politicians ending in America? That topic is discussed on this episode's commentary. Do voters have the patience to sort through nuanced issues? By contrast, have elections become high-stakes contests? Also, on this episode is a follow up to the podcast from October 24, 2021 titled “Commentary: Tragedy on a Movie Set and Digital and Social Media React,” in which the fatal shooting on the set of “Rust” is the subject of commentary.

Social audio is gaining more and more traction as a communication medium. Apps such as Clubhouse exploded in the wake of the pandemic lockdowns. More platforms are now adopting their own versions of this concept and expanding upon it. Twitter Spaces is now becoming a “go to” option for many creators. How does audio only content differ from other media? What are some of the basic tenets of audio only media? This podcast episode discusses the emergence of social audio and various tips for success.

What happens when you get two accomplished humor writers together to talk about their methods? The result is a lively and informative discussion about the art of humor writing. Lee Gaitan and Dave Jaffe are together sharing some of their writing strategies and trade secrets. Does all humor come from pain? How do you select topics? How do you create humor during troubled times? Listen to this episode to find out! You can find Lee Gaitan's book “My Pineapples Went to Houston, Second Edition” here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0971CCJJF/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i1 You can find Dave Jaffe's book “Sleeping Between Giants” here: https://www.amazon.com/Sleeping-between-Giants-Terrier-Budleigh/dp/1734192518

Is it a good idea to infuse politics into a marketing plan or brand image? That is the subject of this episode's commentary. Billy covers several points as to why he does not feel that a political stance belongs in a business scheme or fund development plan of a non-profit.

On this episode recorded live Monday Nov 2, 2021, we discuss the Facebook name change, TwitterSpaces, and numerous other topics related to social media.

This commentary episode discusses the tragedy on the set of the movie “Rust” involving actor, Alec Baldwin, in which one person was killed and another person was injured. The analysis centers on the speculative and in some cases mean-spirited reaction that occurred on digital and social media. The commentary goes on to examine how these forums have become de facto sources for news information.

On this podcast episode, we are talking to Deborah Fezelle who released her fourth installment of the Nick McDeare suspense book series, “Discretion.” The previous installments have been, “Full Circle,” “The Evil That Men Do” and “A Walking Shadow.” During the interview, Deborah Fezelle talks about her early days, her love of the theater, and how being am actress influences her writing for the characters. You can find "Discretion" on Amazon https://us.amazon.com/Discretion-Nick-McDeare-Book-4-ebook/dp/B09FY531KV

On this podcast episode we are talking with Rachel Pfennig Hales about her first full length publication “Tour Book,” which came out just this past April. The book talks about what happens behind the scenes of your favorite concert tours. Every trick, costume or scene change, and the sound and lighting; require the preparation and skill of a dedicated support staff. After it is done, it is time to move on to the next venue and do it again. The book contains true stories from the rock and roll roadies who have helped create the world's biggest concert tours. Rachel Pfennig Hales has a Bachelor of Arts from DePauw University, a Master of Arts in English Studies from National University, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction from Goucher College. You can find Rachel's book on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Tour-Book-Rachel-Hales/dp/1735664847/ref

We are talking today with Gigi Langer, PhD who is the author of the book, "50 Ways to Worry Less Now" which presents practical spiritual, cognitive, and energy strategies; to gain peace, clarity, and wisdom, no matter what is going on in our lives. The best way to get the paperback is at GigiLanger.com/buy as it's only $8.95 for a personalized signed copy; and she will ship it free (but only within the USA). For Gigi's blog, courses, and study groups, check out http://gigilanger.com/

This podcast is a discussion about the anniversary of the 911 attacks. The hosts discuss their memories of the day and some of the conspiracy theories that followed. This episode was recorded live as part of a Twitter Live streaming event at 8:00 PM EST on Monday September 7, 2021.

There is a big difference from winning a war and nation building. If it is war, get in and get out. If it is nation building, be prepared for a very long commitment. This commentary episode is audio only.

“My Pineapples Went to Houston Finding the Humor in My Dashed Hopes, Broken Dreams and Plans Gone Outrageously Awry” (Second Edition with New Material Added) Lee Gaitan is a multi-award-winning author of three books. Her work has been featured on The Huffington Post, Yahoo News, Erma Bombeck Humor Writers' Workshop, The Good Men Project, Mothers Always Write and Bella Grace. The story that resonates in My Pineapples Went to Houston, is Lee Gaitan's personal and powerful tale of surviving a decade of relentless chaos and loss, or what she refers to as, “shock and awfulness.” Told with a batch of honesty and humor, My Pineapples Went to Houston both inspires and entertains readers along with offering hope and encouragement to those struggling with their own “plans gone outrageously awry.” You can find Lee's website here https://www.leegaitan.com/ My Pineapples Went to Houston 2nd Edition https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0971CCJJF/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i1

Live podcast with Billy Dees and Jack Casey. Listen in to the conversation about the Olympics, masks, and the Cleveland Guardians.

Our guest on this episode of the podcast is Dave Jaffe. During this interview Dave talks about his style of humor, his love of dogs, and offers up some writing tips for aspiring writers. Dave Jaffe is a writer, columnist, former Chicago reporter, and humorist who has written for online media, print, television, and radio. Dave's work has appeared in an assortment of outlets, including HumorOutcasts, HuffPost, National Public Radio, and The National Lampoon. During this discussion we also talk about Dave's book, Sleeping between Giants, Book I: Budleigh, the Early Year The book was the Indies Today 2019 Best Humor Book Award winner; a 2020 International Book Awards finalist in both the Humor and Animals/Pets categories; an Independent Author Network 2020 Book of the Year finalist in Humor/Comedy/Satire; and an American Book Fest 2020 Best Book Awards finalist for Humor. HumorOutcasts https://humoroutcasts.com/ Dave's Book https://sleepingbetweengiants.com/publication/budleigh-the-early-year/

Our guest on the podcast is CurvyReaper from TikTok. Curvy is an advocate for survivors of domestic violence and during this interview she talks about some of the misconceptions some people have about getting trapped in the cycle of domestic abuse. She also fights the stigma about men who may find themselves in an abusive or manipulative relationship. Curvy also discusses a number of different topics during the interview and her central message is that no one deserves to be abused. You can find CurvyReaper on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@curvyreaper?lang=en

This episode is a commentary about three things to consider concerning the concept of "wokeness." This opinion piece is not pro or con regarding being "woke," but rather just discusses several talking points involving the matter as part of the wider discussion.

Recorded live June 15, 2021 this episode is with Billy Dees and guest cohost, Jack Casey. The discussion covers topics such as the Mandela Effect, false memories, and recent UFO information.

This episode contains material that may be triggering for survivors. On May 9, 2021 a 13 year old girl was horrifically stabbed to death. After her body was discovered and a suspect was apprehended, what followed on social media was a sad commentary about our times. Related Links: https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/29/us/florida-teen-stabbing-first-degree-murder-charge/index.html https://people.com/crime/tristyn-bailey-case-suspect-pleads-not-guilty-murdering-cheerleader/ https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/06/us/tristyn-bailey-suspect-mother-charged-tampering/index.html

Billy Dees and Jack Casey talk about relaxed pandemic restrictions, masks, and new UFO interest as more videos are being released. Recorded live 8:00 PM EST June 1st, 2021.

This episode is a commentary about Memorial Day, what it means to the host, and his opinion about what the general guidelines should be for when those who serve are called into action.

This episode is a commentary about the notion that some people may be born evil from the start. What is your opinion? This topic always makes for an interesting conversation. One of the key elements in breaking down this subject is the debate between nature versus nurture. Elements of science, philosophy, and religion are often thrown into the mix of talking points. Billy Dees tries to explore the topic in a way that might stimulate some new ideas around the age-old question.

This episode is a commentary about the low ratings of this year’s Academy Award Show which mirrors a trend for nearly all award shows during the past several years. Many critics have pointed their finger at politics rearing its head at these shows as to blame. This may very well be a part of the problem. However, other changes in the media landscape and the Covid19 pandemic are throwing the film industry into a new era.

This episode may contain triggers for survivors. Smitha Gunturi is a women’s advocate who helps others get through the adverse effects of their lives. Being a single mom working in IT and the corporate world for the last 18 years, she hopes to provide insight and bring new light to conversations around other's journeys with lessons she's learned. Thus, she started The Journey Podcast, guesting similar walks of life to her own, focusing on: child sexual abuse, domestic violence and haunted relationship, rape, child loss, suicidal thoughts & lone parenting. You can find Smitha's ordeal chronicled on this episode of her podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwqYDIHUFog&t=3s You can find Smitha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/smithagunturi

This episode is a discussion with Gillian who lives in Canada, has Guillain Barre Syndrome, and is the proud mama of two Greyhound dogs. She also is active on TikTok and tries to spread positivity as well as awareness about her recovery. Gillian's screen name on TikTok is @gee__gilly.