FMMission

I call Jim "The Hillbilly Buddha" because of his self awareness and peace of mind. Jim's last heroin hit was shooting up from a used Monster Energy Drink lid and an old bottle of water out of the trash. From that to 4 years of sobriety and self love, peace, and joy: A conversation with Jim Cassudakis.  If you're on a mission, then overcoming obstacles is a skill you cannot afford not to master. From an addiction point of view, overcoming the demon of addiction isn't just a mission; it is truly life or death. From his father's murder to growing up in domestic violence and suffering in silence, we hope you can learn and grow from Jim's insightful journey. 

This episode is special to me personally! Ian has been a long time mentor of mine, and a business partner on Doc's Music Hall. Ian is a successful environmentalist and social entrepreneur. Ian was featured on PBS in his Documentary where he was filmed on a kayak trip from Greenville, SC in the mountains all the way down to the coasts of Charleston, SC. Ian was a coordinator and grant administrator for the EPA and the state of SC, overseeing a multifaceted environmental grant collaboration project for the state of SC. The goal of the collaboration was to reduce redundancy and increase impact for the EPA grants for the state's precious natural resources. In this episode Ian encourages us to "Pick Our One Thing", and get to work. This will be a very enlightening episode to say the least!

I had a chance to catch up with Mel at Burn's Alley before he headed out for two shows for the night. One of those shows was supporting Susto at a sold out show at The Royal American right here in Downtown Charleston. Mel is a full time artist and producer who has a songwriting contract, a grammy for his role in the Gospel Song of The Year, and he was once homeless on the streets of Nashville! If you're looking for serious insight into chasing mission impossible, give Mel a listen. He has some serious insight for aspiring artists and dreamers alike! 

My guest this episode is Citadel Military College Professor Damon Fordham. I first met Damon Fordham during the early organizing of Black Live Matter in Charleston, SC. Damon was always on the front lines of the organizing, and trying to help inspire young people to be involved and engaged while sharing his wisdom of what civil rights and disobedience means.  Damon's mission is to tell and preserve the stories of the South Carolina's African American Culture and it's contributions to SC and American culture. I enjoyed the sit down and learning myself, please take the time to listen with an open mind. I think you'll find it very interesting. I leave the episodes very raw, because I'm looking to engage and share other's point of views unfiltered. Damon will probably surprise you, as he did me, with his raw to the point insight! Enjoy! Mike 

From Forbes Magazine: Ultrapreneur Doreen Sullivan has been setting creativity in motion for over three decades and is currently setting the cannabis industry on fire like a well-waxed hemp wick. The South-Carolina based marketing strategist and branding expert is already well-known and respected for her originality and detailed creativity, earning her a historic clientele that boasts such familiar names as Disney, ESPN, and the United States Olympic committee,  to name a few. While Sullivan’s unique and multifaceted marketing agency, Post No Bills, continues to successfully thrive after 33 years, her entrepreneurial spirit too continues to grow, pivoting into the budding industry of cannabis. What else can I say to that? An intimate sit down with Doreen Sullivan about her mission to change the stigma of women and cannabis medication. 

I met the Rev. Christian King at the impact economics class at The College of Charleston. We each brought our ideas to the class to show what we thought could help create a more empowered world.  As we went through the class and people shared their ideas and stories, I realized Rev. was a woman who had been in the trenches for 20 years. Through all of the heartaches and setbacks Rev never quit. I always wondered what drove her passion for her mission. Rev. King is a local leader here in Charleston who embodies the fromtheblockup.com principle that Muhiyidin taught us. This is a sit down with Rev. King at the Pink House. Rev's mission is to teach kids they have a choice in life. What a simple, but real, concept. Many of us act instinctually and emotionally at the whims of life. We might just be able to learn a thing or two from Rev and the kids too! For more info: pinkhousecharletson.com 

Red-Tail Land Conservancy Founder Barry Banks truly is the most interesting man in the world. Though he looks strikingly like the guy from beer commercial, his real life story is even more interesting. Barry founded www.fortheland.org after 50 years of age and with no experience reading the book, 'How to Start a Land Trust'. Barry is also a Sailor who has been in a submarine under the water for 6 months without coming out as he tracked the Russians during the Cold War. Barry has been to law school, worked for GE, raised a family, plays music, and now (at 73ish) drives for Uber. Please enjoy this in-depth conversation about how to start a land trust, or any other mission you may have, by the power of being humble enough to read a 'How To' book. What a concept, self education and actualization! 

How to turn a Punk Rock Dive Bar to Authentic Italian Osteria: A how to Once a Burger Chef, a Hardees, Tammy's Lounge, The Acoustic Room, and The Punk Cowgirl how do you take an old Muncie dive bar into one of Muncie's most unique and tasty restaurant experiences?   Dan Stackpoole and I discuss how he did just that. We sold the space and the beer wine to Dan. This is a sit down with Dan to discuss how and why he did it!     FMMission's mission to is give you unique access to the insights, tools, and plans that make your mission possible! We said it'd be worth it, not easy!

For the first episode of FMMission I wanted to invite fellow Munsonian, musician, beer lover, and man on a mission my friend Jarrod Case. Jarrod is part of the team that launched The Guardian Brewing Co. in Muncie, IN. Jarrod isn't just into beer though, he's on a mission to make Muncie, IN the cool place he'd like to hangout in too! In this conversation we explore how a bunch of beer loving midwest geeks took their passion for beer from their garage to The Guardian Brewing Company!   Our goal with FMMission is help empower people who are on a mission in arts, entrepreneurship, and activism. We believe empowered people make a better world. Our goal is to help empower you with the tools, knowledge, and resources to pursue your mission.