The Mister Brown Show

Welcome to this episode of The Mister Brown Show! Real talk, real life, real choices. Parents, this episode is for YOU! As a parent and someone who works with kids and teenagers, my message today is: “Please talk to your kids! They need you!” If you want to talk more, you can join the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can also watch this podcast on my YouTube channel. Sponsor a show through Patreon 

Thanks for joining us, and welcome to another episode of The Mister Brown Show! In this episode I am going to answer two questions I was recently asked by a girl named Sarah. She asked me, “What do you think this generation needs?” and “How do you know you are walking in your true identity… as a black man?”.  These were my answers! If you want to talk more, you can join the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can also watch this podcast on my YouTube channel. Sponsor a show through Patreon 

In this episode of The Mister Brown Show we are going to talk about ‘Why I Deleted Tik Tok,' ‘Finding My Authentic Voice,' and ‘Why Dreams Don't Work Unless You Do.'  A lot of people have been deleting/leaving the Tik Tok platform for very valid reasons, and I want to share my reasons for deleting it.  Thanks for listening! If you want to talk more, you can join the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can also watch this podcast on my YouTube channel. Sponsor a show through Patreon 

In this episode of The Mister Brown Show we are going to talk about the idea that “No relationship is all sunshine,” and how the power of our choices will make us the victim or hero of our stories.  Listen along to hear Part 2 of my conversation with Brandon, a student who heard me speak over 12 years ago! If you want to talk more, you can join the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can also watch this podcast on my YouTube channel. Sponsor a show through Patreon 

In this episode we are going to talk about the idea that “Worry is a BULLY” and I am going to share Part 1 of a conversation I had recently with someone who heard me speak over 12 years ago! He shares how he was an “undercover bully” and how my “better choices, better life” message helped him change the trajectory of his life.If you want to talk more, you can join the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can also watch this podcast on my YouTube channel. Sponsor a show through Patreon 

Welcome to this episode of The Mister Brown Show! “Real Talk, Real Life, & Real Choices.”  Today I am going to talk about an app called “I'm Curious,” the last time I was in the principal's office, and the two issues in society that I would fix.  If you want to talk more, you can join the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can also watch this podcast on my YouTube channel. Sponsor a show through Patreon 

The topic of today's episode is “What is mine to do?” We are going to talk about then-presidential-candidate Biden and his “you aint black” comment, Disney and the so-called ‘Don't Say Gay Bill,' Tony Timpa, school shootings, shootings that were averted, and much more! If you want to talk more, you can join the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can also watch this podcast on my YouTube channel. Sponsor a show through Patreon —Links To Stories Referenced: President Biden's Comment: https://youtu.be/We6Qr9-dDn8Tony Timpa: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/01/us/tony-timpa-dallas-police-body-cam.htmlFlorida Bill: https://www.flgov.com/2022/03/28/governor-ron-desantis-signs-historic-bill-to-protect-parental-rights-in-education/Hunter Biden: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/analysis-hunter-bidens-hard-drive-shows-firm-took-11-million-2013-2018-rcna29462Young Woman Thwarts Shooting: https://www.insider.com/woman-carrying-pistol-shot-man-opened-fire-party-ar-15-2022-5School Intruder: https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2022-06-09/person-killed-in-police-shooting-outside-alabama-schoolTampa Bay Rays: https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/nationals/tampa-bay-rays-split-pride-night-some-players-refuse-wear-logo

A very special guest joins for this episode of Conversations with the Browns. Sophia Grace Brown joins Mister Brown to discuss what it means to ‘Consider Others', with a few distractions and laughs along the way. Check it out!Support the show

Are cell phones dangerous?  We need to teach our kids how to do dangerous things, carefully.  When your kid gets their driver's permit, you don't simply put them in the car to drive a dangerous machine on their own, you teach them.  We need to do the same with cell phones. Cell phones are dangerous devices and we need to teach kids to ‘do cell phones carefully.' If you want to talk more, you can join the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can also watch this podcast on my YouTube channel. Sponsor a show through Patreon 

When a tragedy hits like the one that has devastated the community of Uvalde, Texas, it is hard to know how to respond. As parents, educators, and fellow citizens, we can feel paralyzed in our fear, anger, and grief. Mister Brown and Andrea Brown offer some insights on how to respond to this unspeakable tragedy. 

In this episode of The Mister Brown Show we talk about “the slap heard round the world,” black culture, and broken mirrors. Do you think Will Smith made a poor choice when he slapped Chris Rock?  As I teach students everyday, we are all “Responsible for me!” I believe this situation also demonstrates that today's issues are not necessarily about black people vs. white people, rather they are about the special set of rules that certain ‘elites' have.  In this episode we also talk about black culture and how sometimes we point our finger to systemic racism, yet we refuse to talk about how our culture promotes people as Black History Stars when they are promoting drugs and violence and calling women names.  I want to talk about how this affects kids, because it affected me! Lastly, we talk about broken mirrors and how we often use them to see ourselves and reality.  God gifted each of us with different talents. If we use broken tools to see our lives, we are simply distorting our own reality.  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb3Vn9vMBlM/?utm_medium=share_sheethttps://www.instagram.com/reel/Cb0dpSYLVYu/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=https://www.instagram.com/reel/CbPfL1ol7Lw/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=If you want to talk more, you can join the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can also watch this podcast on my YouTube channel. Sponsor a show through Patreon 

In this episode of The Mister Brown Show we are going to talk about anxiety and depression, the power of a single moment, and what it means to embrace uncertainty. | I think we all experience depression at some point and we need to remember it is a natural feeling.  One way we can combat feelings of anxiety is by finding the source of it. | Life is full of individual moments and every moment matters. Never underestimate the power of a single moment.  | We all have different seasons or chapters in our life. I encourage you to embrace the uncertainty of the future and show up for the season you are living in right now.  If you want to talk more, you can join the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can also watch this podcast on my YouTube channel. Sponsor a show through Patreon 

Do you ever feel lonely?  In a world constantly ‘connected' through phones, the internet, and social media, people are still feeling lonely! I think sometimes we lack deep connections. Sometimes we know OF people, but we don't truly KNOW them.  In this episode, I am going to challenge you to use Connection Questions to truly connect with people.  What do you like about yourself? What is resilience?  In this episode of The Mister Brown Show we are going to discuss these questions, and more! Because, we do “Real talk, real life, real choices.”  If you want to talk more, you can join the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can also watch this podcast on my YouTube channel. Sponsor a show through Patreon 

In this episode of The Mister Brown Show, we are going to talk about agreeing to disagree, Joe Rogan, self-depreciation, the super bowl, valentines day, and multiple controversies; because on The Mister Brown Show, we do “Real Talk, Real Life, Real Choices.” In these podcasts, we are going to talk about real life, but I also want to encourage you. I want to inspire you to look for the good so you can build on it! I truly believe that when you make better choices, you will live a better life!Today's Quote Of The Day is about agreeing to disagree and is more of a challenge than a quote. People are being treated as objects instead of humans, and we can do better!Should some controversies be controversies? Should the Super Bowl halftime show be a controversy? Should Joe Rogan be a controversy? What happened to accurate and inaccurate information? Is there a statute of limitations? We are going to dig into all of these questions, and more, in this episode of The Mister Brown Show! If you want to talk more, you can join the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can also watch this podcast on my YouTube channel. Sponsor a show through Patreon 

I have one thought for you today, and that is, “Are we spreading it on too thick?” Are we allowing our experiences to dictate the truth for everyone else?  This question applies to racism, virtual signaling, covid, and the pandemic. Are we using a broad brush to spread our experiences over our nation, a certain group of people, a country, a political party, etc… It is best described in the quote, “You are entitled to your own feelings, but not your own facts.”  You are entitled to your own feelings or experiences, but not your own truth; because there is only one truth and the facts are the facts. I refuse to let the darkness of this world dim the light that God had placed in my heart. If you want to talk more, you can join the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can also watch this podcast on my YouTube channel. Sponsor a show through Patreon 

Happy New Year! And welcome to 2022! Today we are going to talk about choices and consistency as well as discuss the question “Where is my hope?”  I want to talk about our reaction to the pandemic as well as our Quote of The Day.  Our choices have power and I honestly believe that when you make better choices you will truly live a better life! Life boils down to your choices. No one has a perfect life, but when you make better choices, your life will be better. So Stop. Think. And Choose Well! In this episode, I also talk about the fable The Tortoise and The Hare. Consistency, or slow and steady, is the key to winning the race.  Consistency is something that only you can control. So start small or start slow, and choose well. Oh yeah! Lastly, our reaction to the pandemic has been really frustrating in some ways.  From the beginning, the idea was to crush or eradicate Covid-19 instead of treating it.  When treatments emerged, they were demonized and politicized. We allowed fear to make us irrational. We have only focused on one solution, a vaccine, which is really only a shot.  So how do I stay positive?  Where's my hope?  Let's talk about it! 

In this episode of The Mister Brown Show, I am going to share a few tips on how to “Agree to Disagree” as we enter this holiday season, discuss President Biden's “Winter of severe illness and death” comments, and share a quote of the day.  Here on the Mister Brown Show, we do “Real Talk, Real Life, Real Choices.” In this episode we talk about the question, “Are you ready to celebrate with those you disagree with? Merry Christmas!”  For a long time we were taught to avoid talking about politics and religion; until recently when politics entered every topic of our lives. Our lack of discussion on topics we disagree on has led to labeling people for their views and then dismissing them altogether. We use labels so we don't have to listen to people. We make the disagreement about the person instead of the policy.  Do I need to agree with you on everything for you to be right on one thing?  Can I disagree with you on the pandemic but agree with you about children's safety in schools?  We have to recognize others' humanity, recognize our own humanity, and find common ground.  We have to allow ourselves to agree to disagree, but always commit to cooperation, love, and treating people with respect.  Are you ready to interact and sit around the table with people you don't agree with? Was the President's “Winter of severe illness and death” comment a threat or just a badly-worded press release?  Let's talk about it! Quote Of The Day: “Open your arms to different views, but don't let go of your values. Choose Well!”  It's okay to listen to different points of view, but don't let go of your values and morals.  Your values really do matter!Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year! White House Press Briefing: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/12/16/remarks-by-president-biden-after-meeting-with-members-of-the-covid-19-response-team/If you want to talk more, you can join the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can also watch this podcast on my YouTube channel. Sponsor a show through Patreon 

On this episode of the Mister Brown Show I will be introducing the first Books With Mister Brown segment where we will be talking about the book “Leadership and Self-Deception.”  Because on the Mister Brown Show, we do “Real Talk, Real Life, Real Choices.” The Worst Type of Deception = Self-Deception Self-deception is not doing something you know you should be doing, and then justifying yourself for it.  You enter self-deception when you do not honor your own values.  Choose to honor the person you want to be. We will never find real solutions to issues we face if we keep thinking we never contribute to the problem. Diminishing other people's humanity only increases our self-deception.  Let's treat people like the human being they are! Sometimes you need to take a deep breath and remember that God made each and every person for a purpose.  Remember that next time you disagree with someone or they ‘get under your skin.'  ‘Leadership and Self-Deception' Book Link:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DKHH1GC?tag=onamzmister09-20&linkCode=ic5&ascsubtag=amzn1.infl.us.product&creativeASIN=B07DKHH1GC&ref=exp_misterbrown_dp_vv_dIf you want to talk more, you can join the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can also watch this podcast on my YouTube channel. Sponsor a show through Patreon 

On this episode of the Mister Brown Show we are going to ask the question, “Can we just take a moment?”  Because on the Mister Brown Show, we do “Real Talk, Real Life, Real Choices.”Sometimes our society moves on too quickly when bad things happen.  Can we take a minute to grieve and process our pain from the shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan that left 3 people dead and 8 injured?  Tragedies like this are so quickly politicized and everybody immediately starts pointing fingers.  People instantly jump to the gun control argument or blame teachers, parents, schools, etc.… for the tragedy.  This tragedy was caused by a human being who made an incredibly sad choice.  Life is too short, can we just take a minute to grieve the loss of these teenagers' lives?  Thanksgiving Reflection: “Do you still have an attitude of gratitude?” Thankfulness and gratitude should not stop after Thanksgiving!  Quote Of The Day: “Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”  Your past may not be beautiful or it may not be what you wanted it to be, but you learned from it! When you look at your past through the lens of gratitude, it helps make sense of it.  You can always be thankful that you have a past to reflect on.  Remember to choose the attitude of gratitude.  Oh Yeah! If you want to talk more, you can join the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can also watch this podcast on my YouTube channel. Sponsor a show through Patreon 

Do you have the attitude of gratitude? This podcast episode is a Thanksgiving edition with some helpful quotes and family activities. Let's take a time out from cultural, social, and political issues because no matter what is going on in the world, there is always time to stop and be thankful.Quote: "If your cup is half empty, be thankful you have a cup." A reminder to always look for the good.Quote: "When life is sweet, say 'thank you' and celebrate. When life is bitter, say 'thank you' and grow." Choosing to be grateful in all our circumstances.Quote: "Don't get bitter, get better." Loses can be lessons.Quote: "When you step in dog poop be grateful you have shoes." Another chance to be thankful for what you have and not what you don't have. Look for the good.[8:57] Family Activity ABC's of Thanks[10:43] Family Activity Thankful Tree or Thankful PumpkinJoin the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can watch this podcast on my YouTube channel.  Get exclusive content for as little as $5 a month at Patreon.

In this episode of the Mister Brown Show we are going to discuss the question: “Does the argument for the mandate reveal the ineffectiveness of the vaccine?”Does this shot stop you from getting or spreading covid? The record shows that people have gotten, spread, and died from covid even when they were vaccinated. OSHA said on their own website that they do not want to deter people from getting the vaccine, so they will not be tracking adverse effects of the covid shot until 2022! If your shot protects you, why are you forcing/mandating me to get it too? The goal of this podcast is to create conversation.  I have done my own research, and I hope that you have as well.  I appreciate your feedback and comments, regardless if we agree or not.  We don't have to agree in order to have a conversation.   Quotes Of The Day: “There is always a reason to smile.” Life may be difficult at the moment, but there will always be a reason to smile.  Additionally, “Be the reason someone smiles today.”  Sometimes it only takes a simple gesture to make someone smile.  You can choose to smile as well as to make someone else smile. So choose well, Oh Yeah! If you want to talk more, you can join the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can watch this podcast on my YouTube channel. Sponsor a show through Patreon 

In this episode we talk about ‘Reacting vs. Responding,' because on the Mister Brown Show Podcast we do “Real Talk, Real Life, Real Choices.” So choose well, Oh Yeah!Quote Of The Day:  “Blowing out someone else's candle won't make yours shine brighter. Remember that.” Putting other people down will not lift yourself higher.  Reacting is a knee-jerk response, where responding is a thoughtful reply. Take a minute to think and then respond, don't live your life on a reactionary basis. In this podcast I choose to respond to Don Lemon's reaction to Aaron Rodgers testing positive for covid.  Don Lemon states that Aaron Rodgers is putting people's lives in danger, should not be working, and that he should apologize for not getting vaccinated. If both vaccinated and unvaccinated people can get and spread covid, why is Aaron Rodgers at fault for not getting the shot? As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “One has not only a legal, but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” You don't have to go to Washington D.C. in order to make a difference. Speak up where your influence is.  If you want to talk more, you can join the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can watch this podcast on my YouTube channel. Sponsor a show through Patreon 

In this episode we are going to talk about Aaron Rodgers, vaccine mandates, and our quote of the day.  “Be brave enough to choose yourself, even when others don't.” We often look around the world for validation, but you have to be brave enough to choose yourself.  You have to make the choice to be who you want to be.  Aaron Rodgers made some great points about the vaccine, the media, personal health decisions, and bodily autonomy. Was he wrong for not getting vaccinated?  Other NFL players, who were vaccinated, got covid.  Did Aaron Rodges make valid points about the vaccine mandates?  Let's talk about it! Lastly, should we be calling the covid vaccine “a vaccine”, if it is not creating an immunity like a vaccine should? Let's start calling it what it is, “a shot.” If you want to talk more, you can join the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can watch this podcast on my YouTube channel. Sponsor a show through Patreon 

In this episode of The Mister Brown Show, I talk about ‘Not Obvious', our Quote of the Day, and the covid vaccine mandates and why multiple public figures are walking away from millions of dollars over these mandates.The things that are clear or obvious to you, may not always be clear to other people who have different experiences or circumstances.  We have to accept this concept before we can have genuine conversations with people from the other side of the aisle.  Everybody has intrinsic, God-given value, and we need to respect others based on that.  It's sad that we have allowed covid, the covid vaccine, and even elections to divide us from our neighbors, friends, and family.  Quote of the Day: “You can't start a new chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one.” Different seasons in life have different reasons.  You may have a good or bad season in life, but you can't move onto the next one if you keep re-living the last one. Just turn the page and allow yourself to move into the next chapter of your life.Why are Dan Bongino, Nick Rolovich, Novak Djokovic, Kyrie Irving, and others walking away from millions of dollars over covid vaccine mandates? Because it's not about the vaccine, it's about the mandates! Everybody has a choice; and if this vaccine does not stop the spread, why are we mandating it? Even President Biden and his administration stated at one time that they would never mandate the vaccine. It doesn't matter what your political opinion or religion is, we need to stand up for what is right.  OSHA's website now states under frequently asked questions that they will not be recording the adverse effects of the covid vaccine that they are requiring businesses to enforce.  They are breaking their own rules! The government is forcing people through their jobs to take a vaccine but they are not going to record the side effects.  Now that doesn't make sense!Sean Covey once said, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” I am trying to understand why we are mandating this if it doesn't stop the spread? I don't want to argue about this, I simply want to find solutions and gain understanding.  If you want to talk more, you can join the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can watch this podcast on my YouTube channel. Sponsor a show through Patreon 

In this episode of the Mister Brown Show- Relaunched Edition, I am going to join the conversation about the covid vaccine and vaccine mandates.  Should I take my own advice about bullying? I believe I should, so let's talk about it! I had a student ask me how you can learn from someone without becoming them.  The truth is that you can never be someone else, that position is already taken. So be you, and be the best you! “Don't give up because of one bad chapter in your life, keep going, your story doesn't end here.”  You have the power to overcome the bad stuff in life, it all starts with one choice. So choose well. (Oh Yeah!)When I teach kids about bullying, I always explain how there is the ‘Bully,' the ‘Bullied,' and the ‘Bystander.'  Are we going to allow ourselves to be the ‘Bullied' or the ‘Bystander' when it comes to the vaccine and vaccine mandates?  Is the government playing the role of the ‘Bully' when mandating the vaccine?  In this podcast I am going to take my own advice about bullying and use my God-given voice to talk about the government playing the role of a bully. I am going to speak up and not be a bystander, because it matters! How many people does it take to implement change?  I believe it only takes one. If you want to talk more, you can join the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can watch this podcast on my YouTube channel. Sponsor a show through Patreon 

Welcome to the Mister Brown Show, relaunched edition! “Everyone's influence has an expiration date,” so I'm not going to waste mine. On this podcast, I will be taking advantage of my God-given voice to speak up.I plan to re-enter the podcast realm to encourage people to “Make Better Choices, so you can live a Better Life.” In this podcast, we are going to talk about life, the good, the bad, and the political. Not to be political, but to have a conversation. Because even when you don't have control, you have the power to respond! How many people does it take to make a difference? Let's talk about it! If you want to talk more, you can join the conversation by calling our 24-hour feedback phone (530) 535-8121 or by visiting hellomisterbrown.com. You can watch this podcast on my YouTube channel. Sponsor a show through Patreon 

We've heard all kinds of colorful language being used to describe the 2020 experience. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you look back on the year 2020? Do certain words or themes come to mind? Today, we decided to ask ourselves that same question and see if there was anything positive to look back on. It turns out there are some positives when you choose to look for the good. We encourage you to listen to today's episode and see if you can find the positives from 2020 for yourself. [3:35] Opportunity for greatness | Mister Brown's theme for 2020[11:55] Think small | Andrea Brown's theme for 2020Read more from this episode on our website LifeWithTheBrowns.com. What did you think about today's conversation? What would your theme be for 2020? Have you found opportunities for greatness and time to think small in 2020? Tell us about it.Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let's continue this conversation.   Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrowns

It is the holiday season of 2020 and gift giving is on everyone's mind. Today, we take some time to talk about the joy and stress of gift giving. If you are having trouble finding the right gift for the people in your life, listen to Mister Brown and Andrea Brown discuss the ins and outs of gift giving and choosing the right gift for the people on your list.Go to our website LifeWithTheBrowns.com to read more about this episode and get tips on making gift giving less stressful and three ways to look at gift-giving to help you find the perfect gift for anyone on your list. What did you think about today's conversation? Do you like giving gifts or is it stressful for you? Do you have some tips for giving great gifts that you'd like to share? Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let's continue this conversation.   Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/thelifewiththebrowns/Twitter - https://twitter.com/LWTBROWNSFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/lifewiththebrowns/Support the show

Mister Brown and Andrea Brown walk through a step-by-step process for developing a family mission statement that includes everyone.What comes to mind when you hear the words, “family mission statement”? Do you think of a nice quote up on the wall or a plaque you can buy at the store? You might and that's okay. Today's conversation about family mission statements goes a little deeper into the purpose of a mission statement and gives you a 5-step process for developing your own family mission statement.  Step #1: Our ValuesStep #2: Our SeasonStep #3: Our PracticesStep #4: Circle Keywords and Repeated Phrases Step #5: SummarizeThe Brown family mission statement process[14:35] The Brown family values[20:18] The Brown family season[26:00] The Brown family practices[28:45] Supporting the interests of each other is a Brown family practice, Philippians 2:3-4. Can We Hold Hands and Disagree?[35:00] The Brown Family Mission Statement[44:45] Mister Brown's Mission Statement and the value of doing a personal mission statement for yourself.Read more from this episode on our website LifeWithTheBrowns.com.What did you think about today's conversation? Are you feeling motivated to write a mission statement with your family? For yourself? Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let's continue this conversation.   Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsSupport the show

Today, I caught up with a friend of mine from my youth, Artis Landon. Fitness and nutrition were not always high priorities in our lives. Artis shares his experience of the consequences of poor health and the benefits of fitness, especially as we age. Artis had a huge wake-up call in his 30's that impacted how he looks at fitness and health. We started our conversation with some reminiscing about growing up together and the fitness and nutrition choices we made back then. Nowadays, our fitness and nutrition choices are geared toward better overall health and being able to be around for our families.   [3:20]Artis Landon and Mister Brown reminisce about growing up together.[5:25]Artis's military service and career.[15:10]A hard look at fitness and wellness over 40. “Either workout or die.”[17:00]The chronic heart disease diagnosis and Artis's journey to better health.[25:00]The good news about chronic heart disease and the lifestyle changes that Artis made.[31:00]Motivation to stay fit and healthy over 40.[32:30]How family can be a motivation to make good fitness choices.[38:15]The twenty-five pushup challenge and fitness accountability.You can visit our website at LifeWithTheBrowns.com to find this episode and more.What did you think about today's conversation about fitness and health?  Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let's continue this conversation.   Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsSponsor for the show: Sutherland DDS https://sutherlanddds.com/Support the show

You probably have some ideas about the differences between introverts and extroverts when it comes to socializing. We tend to believe that being an introvert or an extrovert falls on a continuum rather than fully on one end or the other. Today we talk about one instance where we have found similarities and differences between us. Join today's conversation between one introvert and one extrovert. Read more on our website LifeWithTheBrowns.com.We are curious to know, is having people around that you can ignore a thing or are we weird? For people who work at coffee shops, what do you think about us people who come into to do work and be alone?  Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let's continue this conversation.   Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsSponsor for the show: Sutherland DDS https://sutherlanddds.com/

The question, “What is mine to do?” is simple yet can bring clarity and focus to many very nuanced situations. Join us for Part 2 in this conversation about what could be the most important question you can ask yourself.    Often people get engaged in something that is none of their business. Asking the question, “What is mine to do?” can help clarify what is truly your business and yours to be doing.If you ask the question and do the best at that moment, it may not work out the way you want it to, but there is so much you can learn from it. There is value in doing the best you can with the best you know. To read more from this episode, go to our website LifeWithTheBrowns.com.  Listen to Part 1 of “What is mine to do?” on the website.We want to hear from you. What comes to mind when you ask yourself, “What is mine to do?” Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let's continue this conversation.   Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsSponsor for the show: Sutherland DDS https://sutherlanddds.com/Support the show

This podcast episode is a segue from a conversation we had on our last podcast, What is the “Amp Wheel”? Head over there if you want to learn more about what the Amp Wheel is. In this episode, we wanted to talk more about how the question, “What is mine to do?” can bring clarity to many situations, especially if you feel like you are getting amped up about something.Read more about where this question came from, how this question can help you, and how this question helps you to gain clarity and restore relationships on our website LifeWithTheBrowns.com.Continue the discussion about “What is mine to do?” in Part 2 of our conversation.We want to hear from you. What comes to mind when you ask yourself, “What is mine to do?” Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let's continue this conversation.   Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsSponsor for the show: Sutherland DDS https://sutherlanddds.com/

The term “Amp Wheel” came from one of our first podcast episodes. We were talking about being on the Amp Wheel and someone asked what is the Amp Wheel and how do you get off of it? We decided to explain what we mean by the Amp Wheel and have a conversation about how it affects us when we're on it.   The best way to describe the Amp Wheel and how it feels is to tell you to imagine a hamster spinning on a wheel. It's clear to those watching the hamster that it is expending a lot of energy, but it's not going anywhere. Is the hamster wheel a cruel torture device or a mechanism for giving the animal some exercise? It doesn't really matter in this case. The point is the hamster is putting in a lot of effort and not getting anywhere. Read more at our website LifeWithTheBrowns.com.We want to hear from you. What do you think about the term “Amp Wheel”? Do you see yourself on it with some topics? Let us know what gets you amped up and if you have tips for getting off of the Amp Wheel.Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let's continue this conversation.   Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsSponsor for the show: Sutherland DDS https://sutherlanddds.com/Support the show

This is a follow-up episode to our podcast “4 Tips To Help Parents Navigate the 2020/2021 School Year.” In normal circumstances, kids pick up on every juicy tidbit we talk about in front of them. Especially now with the stress and angst of the school year unknowns, it can be easy to express our fears, doubts, and bad feelings out loud and not realize that our kids are hearing every word we say. They are hearing our words and taking on those stresses and attitudes as well. This episode is about how we can best communicate our feelings about the 2020/2021 school year without affecting our kids negatively. Kids are a driver of who your family is and your family values. They can contribute. Listen to your kids. They may be scared and confused about the 2020/2021 school year too. But do your hard processing away from little ears. Do the work of processing where you're at, so you can be present for your kids. Be intentional about taking care of yourself, so that you can show up as the responsible grown person your kids need. This is a powerful way to help your kids learn how to cope when life is out of their control.  Read more on our website LifeWithTheBrowns.com We want to hear from you. Do you find this episode helpful for you? Do you have ideas and tips that can help other parents process the challenges of the 2020/2021 school year? Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let's continue this conversation.   Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsSponsor for the show: Sutherland DDS https://sutherlanddds.com/Support the show

If you have kids, you may be feeling the pressure of heading into the 2020/2021 school year. Since COVID-19 upended life, day-to-day activities have changed. There are a lot of uncertainties and that seems to be especially true for the school year. How are you feeling about it and what do you plan to do? We wanted to share our perspective and tips on how we are handling the looming 2020/2021 school year. These 4 tips open up a path to having conversations. We are all going to make different decisions. In some ways, we are all in the same boat, but in other ways, we are all experiencing something very different. Continue this conversation in your community. Talk to your spouse. Talk to your neighbors. Talk to other parents at your school. Keep these 4 tips in mind while you have these conversations. This process can help us all to show up in a better way and ask better questions.        Read more from today's episode on the website LifeWithTheBrowns.com.          We want to hear from you. Do you think these 4 tips can help you with the 2020/2021 school year? Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let's continue this conversation.   Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsSponsor for the show: Sutherland DDS https://sutherlanddds.com/Support the show

Special guests, friends, and sponsors, John Scott Sutherland and Shandel Sutherland, of Sutherland DDS, joined us for a discussion about the book Leadership & Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box by The Arbinger Institute. In this last part of our conversation, we focus on the 4 different boxes we can be in. The box is a scary place to be. When we are in the box towards someone we are the one who misbehaves. We make the other person out to be worse than they really are. We look for evidence that backs up the story we are telling ourselves. We must create evidence in order to remain in our self-deception. It's scary because as hate rises, we know we are not treating people like humans and we do it anyway.THE 4 BOXES OF SELF-DECEPTIONThe 4 boxes of self-deception are: The Better Than Box: Thinking you are better than others.The I Deserve Box: Thinking you deserve certain things.The Must Be Seen As Box: Thinking that you must be seen a certain way or as a certain kind of person.The Worse Than Box: Thinking that your own problems are worse than anyone else's, so this is why you can treat people a certain way. You can operate in or out of the box. If you operate inside the box, then you see everything as a problem that someone else created. If you operate outside the box, then you will treat people as humans. FINAL THOUGHTSFirst of all, read the book. It's Leadership & Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box by The Arbinger Institute. We highly recommend it. Next, think about the relationships you have with people. Are you in the box in some of those relationships? Get out of the box with people by building relationships with them. If you can't build a relationship with someone you're in the box with, then build relationships with the people who are friends with them. Try to understand the person you are in the box with. What is their story? Where are they coming from? Lastly, remember that we shouldn't be correcting anyone unless we have taken the time to communicate and teach. Communication and teaching happen when we have listened and learned about people and their world. We can listen and learn by building relationships. We build relationships when we are out of the box. You have no business correcting someone you are in the box with.It has to start with seeing the other person as truly human.        Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let's continue this conversation.  Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Listen to Part 1 and Part 2 of our conversation with the Sutherlands about leadership and self-deception.Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsSponsor for the show: Sutherland DDS https://sutherlanddds.com/

Special guests, friends, and sponsors, John Scott Sutherland and Shandel Sutherland, of Sutherland DDS, joined us for a discussion about the book Leadership & Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box by The Arbinger Institute. In Part 2 of our conversation, we talked more about what being in the box means and how to get out of it. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE IN THE BOX?First, being in the box of self-deception means you have betrayed yourself. You don't act in ways that you believe are appropriate or are in line with your values. When you are in the box, you don't see another person's humanity. Instead, you only see the wall of the box you're in. Being inside the box keeps you emotionally disconnected from other people. YOU'RE IN THE BOX. NOW WHAT?You have to start with admitting that you are in the box. Once you identify that you're in the box, you will start to understand how you got there and what to do to get out.  It's easy to get comfortable inside our boxes. The more words we speak, the more decorations we put into our box. If you say, “I'm never doing that,” or “That person is so bad,” it's hard to get yourself out of that box. When the person you have criticized then does something good for you, you can't let them out of the box, right? That would be betraying yourself twice. You will have betrayed your values and then betrayed your righteousness in being inside the box.  SELF-JUSTIFICATION AND COLLUSIONSelf-justification and collusion go hand-in-hand. When we justify ourselves, we point fingers and blame others for our problems. We deceive ourselves with collusion in order to continue our self-justification. We invite people to behave badly so that we can justify our own bad behaviors. It's pretty scary because the behavior we say that we dislike in the other person is the behavior we provoke in order to justify our negative view of that person. It is a form of self-deception that keeps us in the box.  HOW TO GET OUT OF THE BOXIt takes hard work and conscious thinking to get out of the boxes we are in. It also takes humility. We must be willing to admit that we are wrong and no one wants to do that. It's hard. It is much easier to point fingers and blame others for our problems.The first thing you should do is ask yourself what you should do for this person. What can you do to treat this person as a fellow human being? As soon as your brain thinks of that humane response, then do it. Yes, you could yell at that person or hit that person. You could do that if they were only an object to you. Do what makes that person human to you. Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let's continue this conversation.  Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Listen to Part 1 and Part 3 of our conversation with the Sutherlands about leadership and self-deception.Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsSponsor for the show: Sutherland DDS https://sutherlanddds.com/Support the show

Special guests, friends, and sponsors, John Scott Sutherland and Shandel Sutherland, of Sutherland DDS, joined us for a discussion about the book Leadership & Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box by The Arbinger Institute. In Part 1 of our conversation, we explain what self-deception is and talk about the many ways we deceive ourselves on a daily basis.WHAT IS SELF-DECEPTION?Self-deception is the action or practice of allowing oneself to believe that a false or unvalidated feeling, idea, or situation is true (dictionary.com). One of the ways this manifests itself is by not doing something we know we should do and then justifying our inaction to ourselves. When this occurs, we start to blame the people around us for the problems we perceive. It's resisting the possibility that we are part of the problem.ARE YOU INSIDE THE BOX OF SELF-DECEPTION?These arguments you have with others inside your own head are like putting yourself inside a box. No one but you can know what is going on inside your head. Just because the other person doesn't jump up to get the baby doesn't mean they're lazy or a bad person. Maybe they are a heavy sleeper and can't even hear the baby. Isn't it true that you can get up to take care of the baby too? A civil conversation at another time can help the situation improve.  Self-deception causes us to work and live as if trapped inside a box. We don't see the reality that is around us. (arbingerinstitute.com). It's easy to identify the problems outside of ourselves. But can we get to real solutions if we always are outside the problem and we are pointing fingers at all the ways it should change? This book is empowering because you realize that you can't change other people. You only have the power to change yourself. HOW SELF-DECEPTION OBJECTIFIES OTHERSYou cannot believe something and behave differently. Once you're in the box of self-deception, you make the other person an object. They lose their humanity to you. When they become an object, you can justify yourself and your actions. You can mistreat them. It is easy to belittle people, treat them poorly, and feel justified in doing it when they have lost their humanity. In the end, you don't honor yourself and your values.Giving the silent treatment is an example of self-deception. Think of times in your life when you weren't outright aggressive, but turned silent instead. Did you feel justified in your silence and maybe that you were being kind in not saying something hurtful? Did it feel better to be silent? Did you feel a little self-righteous? We want to hear from you. Do you recognize the times you are deceiving yourself? Does it happen at home or at work? What are some ways you can get yourself out of the box of self-deception?  Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let's continue this conversation.  Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Listen to Part 2 and Part 3 of our conversation with the Sutherlands about leadership and self-deception.Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsSponsor for the show: Sutherland DDS https://sutherlanddds.com/Support the show

Conversations are rarely ever black and white. There are many shades of meaning and expression that come through when you have conversations. This is called nuance. Understanding the nuance of a conversation will help you to have better and more meaningful conversations.Nuance is the subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound (dictionary.com). We use it often in our conversations. You probably don't realize it. Paying attention to nuance helps you understand that even when two people are looking at the same thing, they each will have a different perspective. Those differing perspectives will shine through in their tone of voice, body language, and the words they use. Not paying attention to the nuance of a conversation can lead to misunderstandings and conflict.   Nuance helps us to be open to seeing another side to the conversation. This doesn't mean that we try to eliminate who we are. Instead, we need to become more aware of who we are, how we process, and how we have been shaped. When we know ourselves better, we are more present in a conversation and better able to articulate. We also realize that other people of goodwill may have experienced a situation differently than we have. When we forget to notice nuance, it's easy to jump to conclusions about other people and what they are saying.The current system of conversing is set up so that it makes people choose a side. You are either on one side or the other. We think we need to approach conversations with a set agenda and not be swayed. This is especially obvious in politics.Sarah Holland and Beth Silvers of the Pantsuit Politics podcast and authors of I Think You're Wrong (But I'm Listening): A Guide to Grace-Filled Political Conversations have been making politics more understandable and enjoyable to discuss *gasp*.Sarah & Beth are friends who are registered as opposing political parties. They approach their conversations with respect and openness to hear another side. They talk about taking off your team jersey before coming to a conversation. Like with sports, we often come to a conversation with our team jersey on, ready to win and fight for our side. Everyone loses if the conversation is a win or lose situation. We also can't come to a conversation pretending we want to hear what someone else has to say. It's condescending and disrespectful. Whether it's politics, racism, or any other topic, in a real conversation nuance will show our true intentions. The problems we face today have been a lifetime in the making. We are looking for the magic pill for the problems we face, but there is no magic pill. We need solutions that are as nuanced as our actual lives are. Those solutions take time and real conversations. Read more at our website LifeWithTheBrowns.com. How does nuance play into your conversations? Do you make opportunities to have nuanced conversations or do you wait for conversations to be safe before speaking up?Send us your questions and your thoughts.    Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsSupport the show

Social media has made it so easy to stay up-to-date with family, friends, and the latest news. But have you noticed that you keep seeing the same information in your feed over and over again? This episode pulls back the curtain on social media's closed systems, their purpose, and how to reach outside your echo chambers.Echo chambers are a metaphorical description of a situation in which beliefs are amplified or reinforced by communication and repetition inside a closed system and insulates them from rebuttal (en.wikipedia.org). Social media is one type of echo chamber.   Social media gives us large networks of people (a.k.a. more friends). Hearing from a large network makes us think we are getting a bigger slice of reality than we really are. Social media is free to us because other people are paying to use the platform and sell products to us. From ads to articles, social media algorithms are designed to give us more of what we clicked on before. It is a kind of closed system or echo chamber.This became very obvious with a simple search our daughter did online. Sophia went onto Instagram to see cake decorating images and pretty soon the entire feed to Instagram was taken over by cake decorating and nothing but cake decorating. Social media is designed to give you results it thinks you're going to like and want to see more of. Social media algorithms shape a closed system in a way we don't realize. When we see something that contradicts the mainstream point of view it's easy to dismiss. We think we have a diverse group of friends and information, but it is really shaped by an algorithm. The internet and social media are tools. We need to realize they are tools and see what they are really doing. We need to see how they can help and how they can harm.What can you do? Start by having more actual conversations, face-to-face. Evaluate if you are inside an echo chamber. Are you seeing only one point of view? Be aware. Echo chambers are not new and they can occur in other areas of your life. You can find yourself inside echo chambers with friend groups, at schools, and churches. It's important to engage in these areas of life, but be aware of the echo chambers that can develop. Recognize the comfort you feel in your closed systems and be willing to incorporate other voices.In a community, it is important to incorporate more voices. Your community should not just be within one race, gender, or age. Go outside your norms. Bring other voices into your community.  None of this means that your situation isn't real or doesn't matter, but it helps to put it in the right place. Being around varied groups outside your peer group brings perspective and wisdom. Acknowledge that you have echo chambers in your life. Have awareness so you can come to the table and know what you bring. Read more on our website LifeWithTheBrowns.com.We want to hear from you. Identify the echo chambers that you see in your own life. Do you leave space to hear a different viewpoint?Send us your questions and your thoughts. Let's continue this conversation.   Leave a comment or call/text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Make more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsSupport the show

More Conversations and Less Declarations | Conversations With the BrownsA conversation about the current protests about racismMy wife, Andrea, and I stopped our breakfast to have a conversation about the current protests about racism. We are hearing a lot of declarations being made, but not a lot of conversations. In this video, we explain what we mean by that.  Declarations vs. conversationsDictionary.com defines the word declare in a few ways. To declare something means “to make known or state clearly, especially in explicit or formal terms; to announce officially; proclaim; to state emphatically.”Dictionary.com defines the word conversation as an “informal interchange of thoughts, information, etc., by spoken words; oral communication between persons; talk; colloquy.”We are finding that the news and information on the internet makes a lot of declarations. Those declarations may or may not all be true. We are also finding that it's easier to make declarations than to have conversations.How the internet can affect your perspectiveThis morning I woke up and I didn't want to look at the news, but my news app popped up about events that took place overnight. Right away, I started to feel the angst of reading and getting caught up in what new developments had taken place. I just had to stop. I decided to start my day with PB&J: Prayer, Bible & Journal.God reminded me of Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” God is working things out for His glory and our good and those two things are not in competition with each other.That became my declaration from God and that's how I want to start my conversations for the day. I didn't need to grasp for my declaration. My declaration has substance because the substance comes from God. My whole perspective for the day has changed because it came from God. Now all my conversations will be guided by that instead of what everyone else has to say.Andrea made a good point: the internet and social media are built in such a way that it is more conducive to declaring things rather than having an actual conversation. There are people trying to have conversations and inviting people to have conversations, but when emotions are running really high or when it's complex or there's so much we don't know, it's a place where there is a lot of declaring instead of conversing. The internet is not always a good space for having a conversation. Internet algorithms are designed to show you what it thinks you want. They are designed to narrow down the voices that you're hearing and specifically to filter the content you see toward a product you can purchase.  When we keep that in mind, we start to see that our news may be shaped a certain way for us. That filtering starts to affect our perspective of the world. When we only receive information from a certain source or in a certain way our perspective becomes very narrow. We cannot see all sides of the story. This is not the best way to get our perspective and information from the world. Submit a topic for a conversation - https://forms.gle/actLkkKrEHP7pNMZ9 Support the show

Our favorite conversations often happen at our kitchen table. We started this podcast as a way of inviting more friends to the table. We do not claim to be experts or even to agree on most things, but we would love for you to join the conversation. From parenting to cultural issues, we want to create a safe space for more conversations to happen. In a world where a lot of declarations are being made, there doesn't seem to be a lot of room left for people to have honest, face-to-face conversations. That's why we want to invite you into our conversations as we talk about topics together and have guests on the show. When real conversations happen, we get to know people and their stories better. We encourage you to become a part of a conversation today. Conversations can start in your own home or with your neighbors. You can also join us by asking questions, commenting, or suggesting topics. Join the conversation today.    Visit our website LifeWithTheBrowns.comMake more connections with us at https://linktr.ee/lifewiththebrownsCall or text our 24-hour feedback phone at 530-535-8121.Support the show