Let's Talk It's Time America!

This episode is the continuation of our conversation about Blockchain and Cryptocurrency and our our topic focuses on Facebook's digital coin, Libra, that is scheduled to be launched in June next year. My guest, a technology expert, believes that the digital coin is not going to be successful and he explains the reasons why. I disagree with him, I believe that it's going to be a hit because of the number of Facebook's users globally who will find the digital coin convenient and easy to use. 

Welcome to Season 2 of Let's Talk It's Time America! This episode is part 1 of a series of conversations about Blockchain and Cryptocurrency. Our topic for this episode is about the Ethereum Researcher/Developer, Virgil Griffith, and his arrest that is a major consequence for decision to defy the U.S. Government's sanction against North Korea. He gave a presentation about Blockchain and Cryptocurrency during a conference  in North Korea this year and was arrested when he returned to the U.S. He was freed after posting bail. My guest, Curt B., Computer Programmer and Developer, shares his perspectives on Mr. Griffith and if he deserves punishment for his actions.

Welcome to the Season 2 of  Let's Talk It's Time America! We have amazing topics to share with you starting with the return of my favorite podcast co-host, author of the Deliverance Series, fellow "scholar on the move", expert in dog training, runway model, U.S. Air Force Veteran, and my sister in skydiving. Yes, the sky is our playground! For this episode, she shares her background as a dog trainer. She did her doctoral research on the study on small police dog canine unit. Dr. Schinder is a post-9/11 disabled veteran who benefited so much from having her own service dog. She would like to let other veterans know that they too  can train their own service dogs. We also talked about innovative tools  and resources for trainings dogs that are available today due to the advances in technology. I can't wait for another conversation with Dr. Schinder. We will talk more about dog training and maybe share some of her amazing techniques in training dogs and how these amazing animals bring comfort and joy to people. For questions and information about her dog training business, please visit www.sammythedogtrainer.com.  Please support our efforts at the CCP911 Project to give joy and comfort to unfortunate animals this Holiday Season. Send your gifts at www.PayPal.me/merj. Please visit our website for other amazing community engagement projects at www.beyondtheshadowofseptember.com  

Conversation with Mr. Clifford B Dobson for the Let's Talk It's Time America Podcast (Episode 9) livestreamed on FB April 30th. Part 1 & 2 are shared on YouTube and the Complicated Conversations Post-9/11 Project Facebook Page. Mr. Dobson will be celebrating his 56th year anniversary in the sport of skydiving, in June this year, and on behalf of our team and friends at the Complicated Conversations Post-9/11 Project, we would like to congratulate him and thank him for his contributions to the sport. He represented our country many times in his career and won many awards from competitions he participated in all over the world. He is also part of the 100-Way Diamond Formation, a world record that remains unbroken since 2007. Mr. Dobson participated during the making of the Twin Tower Demo for the scholarly film and documentary, "Beyond The Shadow Of September" and that is an enormous contribution to the project that we will always be grateful for.    

Dr. Samantha Schinder is a scholar, author, dog trainer, runway model, and U.S. Military Veteran. In this episode, we  talked about her newly published books from the Deliverance Series. We discussed education in America and how it has been changing particularly with how scholars like us publish and share our scholarly work. We talked about the struggles and the challenges that our veterans face. Finally, Dr. Schinder, helped me introduce my documentary and scholarly film, "Beyond The Shadow Of September", an exploration of the implications of 9/11 from multiple perspectives. Dr. Samantha Schinder's books, the Deliverance and Liberty can be purchased on Amazon Author's Page on Amazon. The trailer of the movie Beyond The Shadow of September is now available at www.beyondtheshadowofseptember.com The video of this podcast is available at www.youtube.com/merjhemp Episode 8 Live Streamed on YouTube  

The Let's Talk It's Time America Podcast returns after a long break and for this episode our topic is about the election, politicians, and our political process in America. My special guest who we are going to refer to as Mautak which means brainy in Tagalog (Filipino Language) holds a degree in Computer Information Systems and despite his expertise in technology communication, he also has a vast understanding about the principles of human communication. During our conversation, Mautak shared his views about the need for the new breed of politicians who are more technology savvy and with a greater understanding about how technology is changing our country and the world. He aired is frustration for politicians who have been in office forever and believes that his generation will one day rise up and yanked the "Baton" out their hands and will take the lead in making meaningful changes in America, in drastic ways. He doesn't know when and how but it's coming! This episode is a great conversation and I look forward to hearing from you. Join me and please support this amazing podcast! Next episode we will talk about our veterans and also share what's happening the new movie about how people see the world and life in the post-9/11 era, Beyond The Shadow Of September. Please visit www.beyondtheshadowofseptember.com  

This episode is a conversation with Cameo Nicole Jones, a young woman whose post on Facebook caught my attention, "I don't want to attend another funeral." She has attended many funerals mostly by young people losing their battles to drug overdose. Drug addiction in America is horrifying, it's a national crisis! Thanks so much Cameo Nicole Jones, Outreach Coordinator at 1st Step Behavioral Health for the amazing and important conversation about drug addiction in America.

My special guest for this episode is Kelly Kowall, Gold Star Mother of SPC Corey Kowall who died during a combat operation in Afghanistan in 2009. Kelly is the president and founder of My Warrior's Place, located in Ruskin Florida. It is a beautiful Retreat Center for our Veterans, Military Service Members, First Responders, and Gold Star, Blue Star, and Silver Star Family Members. We talked about the amazing programs at the center as well as the upcoming event, Battle of the Bay by Land, Sea, and Air. Battle of the Bay by Land, Sea,and Air

I came to this country with no education and I wish it didn't take 3000 lives for me to realize that I needed to understand the world much better. My life have changed significantly after 9/11. In 2005, I received my associate degree, in 2007 my bachelor's, in 2009 my master's, and 2014 I received my doctorate. Today, I devote my time and life as a community scholar engaging people globally and trying to bring communities together, one complicated conversation at a time. www.merjhemp.com

I have always been passionate in engaging people in hard conversation because I truly believe that genuine friendship and understanding can be achieved when we are committed to bringing people together and have the courage to engage in hard conversations about issues affecting members of different communities from all backgrounds and cultures. I am extremely excited to have Katie as my special guest for this episode because she is someone I admire very much because not only she understands where my passion is coming from but more importantly, she has a greater understanding of the world and the importance of exploring both the human and technology communication to connect with people from different generations, backgrounds, and cultures. In this episode, Katie and I discussed politics, education, technology, canning, skydiving, and more!