Podcasts about although michael

Despite the inestimable success of his most recent book, Carl finds himself “cancelled” by a school where he was to deliver a speech. It's an outcome that raises Dr. Trueman to an even higher level of recognition; he's now almost as important as Ryan T. Anderson, who was famously cancelled by Amazon! Now, Carl and Todd hope their special guest won't be “cancelled” for merely being in their company. Michael Kruger is the president of Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, and professor of New Testament and Early Christianity. Although Michael is a scholar and has written some heavyweight theological volumes, he's also penned some phenomenal books with a pastoral tone. Michael's latest is Surviving Religion 101, which he says is--for a number of reasons--one of his most personal. This letter-format book is intended not only to help Christians survive the assault on their beliefs on campus, but many other challenges of college life. Confronting doubts, apologetics training, the role of the church in the life of the college student, philosophical and worldview issues—all are on the table as part of this great conversation. Listen in, and tell a friend to do so as well! We are giving away a few copies of Surviving Religion 101. Register for the opportunity to win one. The books are a generous gift from our friends at Crossway.

Episode Summary:  You cannot assess the history of cinema without assessing the history of mob films. Filmmakers discovering that crime offered a new narrative form changed the direction of movies to come. Today, the guys discuss two of the most celebrated mob movies in history. The Godfather is in the constant rotation of films that are considered “Best Of All Time”. Goodfellas builds on the modern formula that The Godfather builds by giving the “Behind The Music” of running an organized crime organization. Also, these films don't lack star power. When we analyze the cast of each film, it reads like the yet-to-be-realized youth of The Godfather versus the tenured De Niro/Pesci cast that Scorsese had perfected chemistry with. Buckle up for our most detailed Movie Wars to date. And remember, "never rat on your friends and keep your mouth shut” as Jimmy Conway put it.   Movie Wars Scorecard    Best Top Bill Cast Best Supporting Cast Best dressed Best ending Which gang do you want to be in? Music Highest employer rating Scorsese Vs Coppola  Best mob portrayal  Horsehead in the bed or leave a dead man in a meat freezer truck? Worst beating? Henry Hill or Sonny Best Italian cooking   Film Summaries Goodfellas: A young man grows up in the mob and works very hard to advance himself through the ranks. He enjoys his life of money and luxury, but is oblivious to the horror that he causes. A drug addiction and a few mistakes ultimately unravel his climb to the top. Based on the book "Wiseguy" by Nicholas Pileggi. Rating: R Genre: Drama, Crime Original Language: English Director: Martin Scorsese Producer: Irwin Winkler Writer: Nicholas Pileggi, Martin Scorsese Release Date (Theaters): Sep 19, 1990  Wide Release Date (Streaming): Aug 15, 2008 Box Office (Gross USA): $42.6M -Info courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes, (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1032176-goodfellas)     The Godfather: Widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, this mob drama, based on Mario Puzo's novel of the same name, focuses on the powerful Italian-American crime family of Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando). When the don's youngest son, Michael (Al Pacino), reluctantly joins the Mafia, he becomes involved in the inevitable cycle of violence and betrayal. Although Michael tries to maintain a normal relationship with his wife, Kay (Diane Keaton), he is drawn deeper into the family business. Rating: R Genre: Drama, Crime Original Language: English Director: Francis Ford Coppola Producer: Albert S. Ruddy Writer: Francis Ford Coppola, Mario Puzo, Mario Puzo Release Date (Theaters): Mar 15, 1972  Wide Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013 Box Office (Gross USA): $134.8M Runtime: 2h 57m -Summary courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/godfather)

Michael Gier joined The Protectors to talk about his documentary WOUNDED HEROES, his time in the film industry, and bringing this story to light.  Full interview on podcast and YouTube this Monday.  About the documentary:  Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) among Veterans is a serious problem with over 20 Veterans a day taking their lives by suicide.  Most are given prescription drugs but as many Veterans have said, medication is just a band-aid over a wound that will never heal. Our Veterans deserve more than just a band-aid and so director/producer Michael Gier went on a mission and found successful treatments and programs that help anyone battling PTS get their lives back. And just like Veterans; firefighters, police officers, and other first responders not only deal with PTS, but they also have very high suicide rates. Although Michael started out to help Veterans, Wounded Heroes features treatments/programs that help all of our heroes and anyone battling post-traumatic stress; literally saving lives.​Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/theprotectors)

In this episode of the Build Hatch Podcast, we had the opportunity to hear from Michael Rodgerson from MPR Design and Build. In this episode we talk about: Michael grew up close to Bentley in VIC, the son of hard-working parents who were both chefs. After school, Michael moved to America to take a gap year and figure out what he wanted to do. Upon his return, he completed a commercial apprenticeship through a local footy club which eventually led him to a domestic building apprenticeship. The value of learning alongside a builder vs a sole trade, like carpentry. Working for a tough builder who ‘had the durry test' and the value in detail driven teachers. By age 24 Michael was DBU certified and started out with smaller renovation projects before setting up an office in Bayside. Although Michael did not set out to work in the high-end areas of Victoria, over time it grew as he built his portfolio. ‘The big boys' all started somewhere and Michael encourages young builders to be patient, as construction is a long-term game. The beginnings of ‘MPR Design and Build'. Michael's point of difference is working with an architect at the concept stage, rather than tender, so that the design is based off a budget rather than concept. Don't say ‘I think' – know your numbers and be upfront with clients around budget and pricing. Approachability and personal relationships built on honesty and trust. You're only as good as the homes you build, not the tenders you pitch. Michael's approach is to donate his time to architects to ensure they can put forward a proposal to tender which is successful. Michael defines the difference between a tier one builder and a tier two builder. To be able to manage his business, Michael has put away this tool belt and now places trust in his team and sub-contractors. The jump in revenue may come with challenges and Michael's tips for up-scaling. Managing not only the income into the business but outgoings and client payments. The restrictions from third parties on builders and the confines in which they need to work within. ‘You can be the best builder in Australia but, without a good team you are doomed.' The work MPR focus' on now and the aspects of each sector that Michael enjoys. Making small adjustments in a quote can be the difference between landing a tender and losing it. Building a house is the biggest financial decision a client will make. Michael approaches them with logic and options to make it as smooth as possible. The future for MPR Design and Build. Sit back and enjoy this helpful interview with Michael Rodgerson from MPR Design and Build.   Links: MPR Design and Build Build Hatch Follow @buildhatch on Instagram 

Learn more: Unpopular People (www.unpopularpeople.com)Michael Miller is a professional kickboxer and personal trainer living at the Gold Coast, Australia. He is also an actor and martial arts trainer. For his acting career, he lived in Hong Kong for 7 years and played in many TV shows and movies. One of the many famous movies he acted in was “Knock Off” with Jean-Claude van Damme. In this interview, Michael talks about his career as a kickboxer, his passion for martial arts and his experience in Hong Kong and China. He also trained thousands of people for black belt in Taekwondo and Kung Fu. Although Michael is a small person, he has been working successfully in jobs as a bodyguard, stuntman, bouncer, Tae Bo instructor, martial arts trainer and personal trainer. Moreover, he shares some private information like a rare kidney disease he has and some stories from the time living in China. If you want to learn how to be successful by making other people successful, listen to this inspiring episode. Listening and learning from each other is key for personal development and success.Shownotes: www.unpopularpeople.com/season2/s02e32

For Halloween I welcome back to the show famed Psychic Medium and Author, Michael J. Kouri. In this episode Michael shares true haunting stories of Disneyland and previews his new book on the spirits that haunt The Happiest Place on Earth.  Michael has authored more than 70 books including his most popular, 'The Ghost of Walt Disney and Me'. Although Michael never met Walt Disney in life, he shares several stories of encounters with Walt's spirit and many more ghostly tales.  You can learn more about Michael and even book one of his famous Southern California Ghost Tours by visiting his website -  ICGhosts.com  There you can also purchase any of Michael's books including 'The Ghost of Walt Disney and Me'.  Follow me on social media here: https://www.facebook.com/findingwaltdisney https://www.instagram.com/findingwaltdisneypodcast/ https://twitter.com/disneypodcast23 Thank you for listening and sharing with all your Disney loving friends and family.  Happy Halloween! 

In this episode of Bed Wed or Behead, Meg and Carla choose between Michael (Steve Carell), Dwight (Rainn Wilson), and Andy (Ed Helms) from The Office (2005-2013), the NBC sitcom based on the BBC’s hit show by the same name. Although Michael was the manager of the Scranton, PA branch of Dunder Mifflin the longest, Dwight and Andy also had their turns at the helm. If they share one characteristic, it is that none of them should ever be in charge of anything, and yet here we are.

Earning Freedom: Conquering a 45-Year Prison Term, by Michael Santos Chapter 10, Segment 2 Months 180-190 ****** Five extraordinary days with Carole lead to the preliminary plans for the rest of our lives. We pledge to build our relationship, growing together through the challenges I’m certain will come because of my imprisonment. Carole wants to marry me now, but I explain the reasons why she should understand more about the prison system’s stranglehold on my life before rushing into marriage.  Although I want to marry her, it’s necessary, I think, that she prepare herself for the unrelenting controls of the prison system and the strain it places on families. Her love comforts me, inspires me, and gives me a sense of belonging. Whether we marry now or not, I’m no longer alone. I stare at the walls, trying to contemplate ways that I’ll be able to provide for her.  I aspire to live as a worthy partner for her while I climb through the remainder of my sentence. Carole returns to Oregon, leaving me with an ache in my heart. I want to hold and kiss her.  Our physical separation leaves me bereft and longing. Writing her each day isn’t enough, but words on a page are all that I have while she’s gone. Despite my wanting her with me, I have major concerns about finances and my ability to support her. Although I still own stock that I could liquidate to raise cash, I’ve been counting on that capital to help launch my life when I leave prison. I love her, but I’m under no delusions about the challenges I’ll face with another decade of imprisonment ahead. Carole doesn’t have the resources to relocate to New Jersey, and I don’t know how I’ll earn them from inside of these boundaries. Like me, she’s 38 and divorced, but it wouldn’t be just the two of us. She has two children: Michael is 13 and Nichole is 11. Although Michael lives with his father, moving Carole to New Jersey would mean bringing Nichole, too. I don’t know how I would be able to take on this responsibility. I stretch back in my chair, run my fingers through my hair, and think of her while staring at photographs of us together in the visiting room. Although I’m confident that I can navigate the challenges of serving another decade in prison, devoting my life to Carole means I’ll be complicating the rest of my journey–albeit in magnificent ways.  When I’m released we’ll both be 49, but I want to begin my life with her now. I’ve got to figure out how to generate enough resources to support her. The only way I know how to earn money is through writing, so I invite Carole to join me in launching an effort to use the knowledge I’ve gained in prison. She agrees enthusiastically and asks how we’ll do it.  I explain that she can start a publishing company; it will produce and distribute books I write that describe the criminal justice system from the perspective of a man going through it.  From our efforts, we hope to build a sustainable income that will support her and Nichole while simultaneously providing guidance to people who need it. ****** After two guards open my door for the 3:00 a.m. census count and pass by, I throw back the covers and get out of bed. It’s time to work. Emmanuel, my roommate, still sleeps soundly, so I’m quiet. I’ve cut holes into tennis balls and slid them onto the legs of my metal folding chair so it doesn’t make noise when I sit at the desk. I’m in my sweats and socks, with only my two book lights illuminating the page as I work quietly in the dark. Since beginning this publishing project, my goal has been to write 15 pages of content each day.  It’s work, requiring a disciplined strategy. I mail the pages I write to Carole each evening.  Upon receiving the handwritten pages, Carole types them and returns them to me double-spaced, ready for editing. We’re a cross-country team, partners in the effort to raise money for her move to New Jersey. At the pace we’re going, we’re ahead of schedule. The manuscript should be finished within a month. This evening, as I’m using a blue pen to edit the pages Carole returned, my friend Geoff lies supine on the floor of my room. Geoff is an urbane cardiologist serving a 36-month sentence for the crime of treating poor people in his clinic and billing Medicaid for medicine and lab tests that weren’t covered. For 30 years he’s owned his Upper East Side medical clinic and the building where it’s located. We’ve become good friends. Geoff’s in his mid-60s, but his daily discipline over diet and exercise enable him to retain a high degree of fitness. In fact, fitness is a top priority for Geoff, and because I enjoy his company, I offer him the use of my floor. He devotes an hour each evening to working his abdominal muscles, with a combination of leg lifts and extensions that he does methodically and effortlessly. Usually, he simultaneously reads his beloved New York Times, or classic literature, devouring books by Tolstoy, Hugo, and Joyce. But tonight Geoff is upset and wants to talk. I set my pen down to listen. While lying on his back, he holds his extended legs steady, six inches off the floor, and tells me about business troubles at his clinic. Before surrendering to serve his sentence at Fort Dix, Geoff gave his business manager, Ted, authority to preside over his clinic. Through Ted’s mismanagement, or possible fraud, Geoff tells me that he’s losing $20,000 a month. “Why don’t you close the clinic down?” I suggest. “I can’t just close it. I employ three other cardiologists, an internist, and several nurses. The clinic sees more than 50 patients a day,” he explains while raising his legs higher, a foot off the ground, and holding them steady. “Then why not sell the practice to the doctors? You’ve worked long enough. You could rent them space, and leave them the headaches. By the time you finish this sentence, you’ll be almost 70 anyway. You could retire.” “I’ve thought about selling. The trouble is I don’t have any way of communicating from here. I’m totally in the dark while I serve this sentence. All I get are messages that Ted needs more money to meet payroll.” “Was the clinic losing money when you came in?” “No. Rather than costing me money, it should be earning 20 to 30 thousand each month. Ted is screwing up the billing, or something.” “You know what you need?” I have an idea. “What’s that?” “An office informant, someone who can tell you what’s going on.” “You’ve got that right.” “Why don’t you hire Carole?” “Who, your Carole?” “She could work at your office, then come visit us here and let you know what’s going on.” “Is she a lawyer?” “No, why?” “Well, I could use a lawyer to sort through the billing mess.” He lifts his legs higher, 18 inches off the floor. “Besides, how would she come visit us both if she’s not a lawyer?” “She can visit me, and you bring someone else to visit you. We’ll sit beside each other in the visiting room and she can tell you what she sees going on in your office. At least you would know.” “Do you think she’d be willing to come to New York?” “I can ask.” “How much would she want to earn?” “She’d have to earn enough to live.” “Living on the Upper East Side of New York City isn’t the same as living in Oregon.” “What’s it cost to rent an apartment near your office?” “Too much. But I’ve got a vacant apartment in the city, and I’ve got a car she can drive. She can use the apartment and the car, and I’ll pay her $2,000 a month. Does that sound fair?” “I’ll call and ask.” While Geoff continues with his leg lifts on the floor, I rush out of my room to secure a spot in line for a telephone. When she answers, the question spills out before I can ask about her day. “Would you move to New York if I could arrange an apartment, a car, and a job that would pay you $2,000 a month?” She doesn’t hesitate, saying she would. “What kind of job?” “Remember I told you about my friend who’s a doctor?” “Yes.” “He needs an office person, someone who can keep an eye on things and report back to him.” “I can do that. How often could we see each other?” “Every week. We’re only an hour apart. When could you be here?” “I’m ready to go whenever the job’s open.” “What about Nichole?” “She’ll come with me.” ****** Geoff’s desperation to resolve his crisis at the office precipitates his decision to hire Carole on the spot. He needs information. People he trusts are stealing from him and mismanaging a business he spent a lifetime building. As a prisoner, he doesn’t have access to information he needs about daily activities in his clinic.  The prison system limits each prisoner to 300 minutes of telephone use each month, and that isn’t sufficient for a man like Geoff, who has existing business interests.  In an effort to get a handle on things, he pays Carole’s expenses to move to New York. We make the arrangements quickly, as Geoff wants Carole to begin at once. I coordinate the deal for Carole, but I saddle her with the challenge of coordinating the complicated cross-country move on her own. I don’t have any responsibilities outside these prison boundaries, and I have enough money in the bank to cover my startup expenses when I’m released. After 15 years, I’ve mastered the challenges that mire other prisoners in failure. In moving Carole to New York, however, I’m knowingly making myself responsible for her and Nichole, her 11-year-old daughter. My credibility with family and mentors who believe in my judgment will be on the line, and maybe, too, the stability I’ve worked hard to create.  Still, I’m confident that we can make it together. “Honey,” I warn her over the phone, “you should prepare yourself for other people’s response to our plans. People are going to think you’re nuts.” “They already do, but I don’t care what anyone else thinks or says about me. I love you, Michael. I’m not staying in Oregon while the man I love is in New Jersey. I need to be close so we can visit as frequently as rules will allow.” “Baby, I need to be sure you fully understand my situation. I love you, and I’m the most fortunate man alive to have your love.  But I’ve got 11 more years to serve, and I don’t have any certainty about earning an income. I can’t do more than arrange this job with Geoff. You have to make this move work on your own, without my help.” “Do you want me to come?” “Yes, more than anything. But I’m used to prison life. I worry whether you’ll be able to handle it. Are you sure you’ve thought through what 11 more years of prison means?” “If you had a life sentence, I’d still choose you. You’re the only man I want to share my life with.” Her firm, unwavering dedication convinces me we can triumph together. “What about your family, your parents?” “I choose you, Michael. Whatever it takes to make this relationship work, I’m all in.” Our conversations and letters deepen my commitment. I want to give her all that I have and share all that I am and all that I will become. Carole’s certainty and radiance warm me like sunlight, bringing out my humanity. I embrace the joy and sense of fulfillment that comes with loving her. Friends and family worry that I’m blinded by love, that I’ve lost focus, and that I’m setting myself up for a fall. “What about when you come home, Michael?” My sister Julie presses, worrying that I haven’t thought everything through. “How can you be sure she’s the woman you want to spend your life with?” “Because I love her.” “But how are you going to take care of her?” “We’ll create our life together. I can help her, just as she’s helping me.” “What about your future? Are you selling the rest of your stock portfolio? Have you thought about what it will mean if you come home broke? Tim and I want to help you, but we can’t support another family.” “I’m not selling the stock. Carole has a job waiting for her in New York, and I’m writing a new book for her to sell. You trust me, don’t you?” “Of course.” “Julie, I’m not going into this blindly. Carole makes everything in my life better and I want to build my life around her. With her I’m not a prisoner, I’m a man, and together we can make this work.” “You’re a man, but you’re still a prisoner. Just don’t hurt her, Michael. She doesn’t know anything about what she’s getting into.” “I’ll never hurt her.” My closest mentors, Bruce McPherson and Carol Zachary, also express concern about this change I’m introducing to my life, and to Carole’s and Nichole’s as well. I understand. The pernicious, toxic environment of prison beats families down, tramples relationships to dust. But I know that we can make it. Whatever it takes, I’m determined, regardless of what odds conspire against us. I want her love and I’m willing to endure whatever struggles come with it. I hope that Carole can too. ****** Those struggles begin to manifest themselves in late December, one week before Carole’s scheduled arrival. Geoff comes to my room to share some unexpected news. “I’m being transferred,” he tells me. “What? Where to?” “They’re sending me to the drug program on the West side.” Geoff will still be at Fort Dix, but his transfer to the other compound will completely sever our ability to communicate. “Carole’s already sent her stuff with the moving company. I can’t reverse her move.” “I know, and I still want her to work in the office.” “But we won’t be able to visit together.” “Can’t she visit me over there?”
 I shrug, not knowing what guards will allow. “You can try putting her on your visiting list, but they might not let her in.” “Then she can write. Look, this is a mess, and there’s nothing we can do about it. I’ve got to be out of here in an hour. When she gets here, have her go to the office. Ted will give her the keys to the apartment and the car. We’ll work out the arrangements once she settles in.” When I call Carole to tell her about Geoff’s transfer, she doesn’t hesitate. “We’ll make it work. I’ll still fill him in on what’s happening in his office, and I’ll look after whatever he needs.” I admire her optimism, her commitment, and her courage. My determination equals hers. But hers is weighted with a high degree of risk. We talk about the logistics of her move and about coordinating delivery of her belongings to Geoff’s empty apartment. Such mundane tasks energize me. For the first time I’m part of a family, cherishing the feeling of belonging. We save two phone minutes from my monthly allotment, as I want to call her after her flight lands. We’re scheduled to visit on the morning after New Year’s, 2003, when I’ll meet Nichole for the first time. ****** It’s after six on New Year’s Eve, and I’m at my desk, trying to ease my anxieties by writing. I burned through the final two phone minutes from my December allotment after Carole’s plane landed and I won’t receive my next allocation of phone or visiting time until tomorrow, when the new month begins. Prison restrictions prevent all contact with Carole, which leaves me completely in the dark about her move. I stand, nervously pacing the floor. My old friend Windward comes to mind–he used to drive me nuts with his pacing.  That was longer than a decade ago, in USP Atlanta. This anxiety is new to me.  I can’t help her with this cross-country transition into a new city. At least I’ll have new phone minutes tomorrow. We’ll be able to talk, but we still won’t be able to visit for two more days. Prisons are not family friendly. While working through my silent worries, I hear an unexpected page. “Michael Santos. Report to the visiting room.” It’s my name being paged, but since I’ve expired my visiting privileges for the month, I’m confused as I walk to the visiting room. I see the guard at the visiting room door and I ask him for confirmation that he paged me. “You heard your name, didn’t you?” “Yes.” “Well, haven’t you been in long enough to know what that means? Strip!” I take off my clothes for the search ritual. The guard authorizes me to enter the visiting room and I see that it’s packed. I walk through the crowds of people to the guard’s platform, and as I hand him my ID card, I see Carole. She’s bundled in a blue, floor-length wool coat, and a pale pink cashmere scarf circles her neck. She’s obviously distraught. As I approach her, she walks to me quickly and wraps her arms around me, crying. She buries her face into my neck and I hold her. “Baby, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
She holds me tighter. “What is it? Talk to me,” I repeat urgently, quietly. I put my hands on her cheeks, tipping her head up to kiss her tears. “What’s wrong?” She sniffles, but between them I hear her say “No car, no apartment, no job.” She’s still crying and I pull her tight. “Tell me what happened.” I want to help her, and I suddenly feel the weight of what it means to accept this responsibility of love. She takes a deep breath to steady her voice before speaking. “It’s Ted, Geoff’s business manager. He says he’s in control of Geoff’s practice. He refuses to give me access to the office, and he’s refusing to give me keys to the apartment and the car I’m supposed to use. I’m here with Nichole, everything I own is in a moving truck on its way here, and I don’t know what to do.” I breathe in deeply, needing to soothe her before asking questions. I pull her close, wrap my arm around her shoulders, and walk toward a pair of plastic purple chairs in the back of the visiting room. We sit and hold hands. It’s the only comfort I can offer under the watchful eyes of cameras and guards. She sighs, exhaling with a long breath as she lays her head on my shoulder, and I feel her relax against me. “Don’t worry, Baby, I’ll take care of you.” I kiss her cheeks, taking a chance that in the crowded room, the guards won’t notice. “I’ve got enough money to help you settle.” “You said you’d never sell the stocks,” she says, lifting her head from my shoulder to look at me. “I know what I said, but you’re more important to me than any stocks.  Of course I’ll sell them. I love you, Carole. I’ll do anything for you.” Her head drops back onto my shoulder and I savor the feeling of her weight resting on me. “I’ll pay you back,” she promises. I chuckle at her promise, and then I ask where she is staying. “Did you get a hotel room in New York?” “We left New York when Ted refused to give me the apartment keys. I’ve still got my rental car, so I drove down and checked us into a hotel that’s closer. Nichole’s there now. She’s watching a movie until I get back.” I’m relieved that Carole came to New Jersey. It’s much less expensive here and we’ll need to be careful with our money. I caress her hands and appreciate how soft and feminine they feel inside mine. “Do you want to stay in New Jersey, or would you rather go back to Oregon?” “I’m staying with you.” Her voice so recently quivering is suddenly steady. “Okay, Honey. That’s what I want, too. We’ll make a plan and together we’ll make it work. I love you.” “I love you so much.” She kisses me gently. “Honey, we can’t kiss anymore,” I warn, conscious of the guards. “Tell me how you got in here. I didn’t have any visiting points left for the month.” “I know. I called here all day and I told your unit manger it was an emergency, but he wouldn’t let me talk to you. I decided to drive over and try to talk my way in. Thank goodness Officer Cruz was on duty. He must’ve believed me when I told him I had to see you. He changed something on the computer and here I am. I think he was worried I was going to burst into tears in front of him.” “See, I told you that God’s been protecting me through this journey.  Now he’s protecting you.  And although many people who work for the prison system make things difficult, some are nice.” “Yes, he was very nice. I’m grateful, because I really needed to see you, and I want to come back tomorrow, too.” “Tomorrow’s New Year’s Day, Honey. Holiday visiting privileges cost us double against my allotment for the month. Let’s wait until the day after tomorrow to visit. The rules limit me to a maximum of 30 hours in the visiting room for the month and we can’t squander them.”  She’s going to get an immersion course in the complications of my imprisonment. “Michael, I need to see you! We need to make a plan.” “Okay,” I relent. “You can come for one hour, but it’s going to cost us two hours against my monthly allotment of 30 points.” “I’ll bring Nichole.” ****** It’s cold.  My green jacket and orange knit cap aren’t enough to keep me from shivering when I leave the visiting room. Maybe I shiver more from worry than the frigid December temperatures. I can handle the cold, but as I cross the nameless road that leads to my housing unit, I realize for the first time in 38 years that the local economy is relevant to my life. As the president tries to push us into a second war in Iraq, the newspapers have been reporting on high unemployment rates. These didn’t concern me until an hour ago. But I’ve brought Carole here, thousands of miles away from her friends and family, on a promise. The promise went south. Now two lives hang on my ability to bring her stability, and suddenly the 11 years of prison that await me feel heavier. “Hey, I heard them call you for a visit.” Bob catches up to me, his tone revealing curiosity. “I thought you said you were out of points.” “I was. Carole talked her way in.” “Huh, I’m impressed. It’d be easier to talk your way out. She must’ve charmed them, but that’s like charming a rattlesnake. How’s her move coming along?” “Totally derailed. Geoff’s business manager is refusing to give Carole the job, the apartment, or the car. She’s stranded, and all her things are packed in a moving truck that’s supposed to arrive in New York next week.” “Wow.” We take a few steps with only the sound of crunching gravel and howling wind between us. “How can I help?” “I’ll take care of it. My sister is in Hawaii for the holidays, but when she returns, I’ll have her sell enough stock to send Carole the money she needs to settle.”  “I could get her a few thousand to tide her over if it would help.” “Thanks. I appreciate the offer, but I put her in this mess. I’ll get her out.” “Well let me know if you need anything.” Bob is a good friend, willing to lend me money even though we’re both in prison.  I’m grateful for the gesture. I walk into the housing unit and search for Richard, a young offender I interviewed recently for a story I wrote. While talking with him, I remember Richard telling me that his wife lived only a few miles from the prison. She was struggling financially, like many prison families, because of her husband’s imprisonment. He’s sitting on the stairs, slumped, his elbows resting on his knees. “What’s troubling you?” I ask. He looks up at me and takes off his glasses, rubbing his eyes. “Holidays. I miss my wife and son.” “That’s what I came to ask you about. Do you think your wife would want a housemate?” “Whadda ya mean?” “I’m in a bind. My fiancée and her daughter just moved here from Oregon. They thought they had an apartment, but the arrangements didn’t work out. I need to help her find a new place and I thought of you. Your wife could probably use the money, and they could support each other.” He puts his glasses back on. “That could really help. How old is your fiancée’s daughter?” “Eleven.” “I’m in line for the phone now. I’ll come by your room after I talk with my wife.”  

On this edition of Parallax Views, Silicon Valley darling Elon Musk is back in the news as he welcomes his new born child into the world alongside his musician girlfriend Grimes. But what of Elon Musk's ventures in the tech world, specifically the push for autonomous vehicles or self-driving cars? Former Lockheed Martin whistleblower Michael DeKort joins us to discuss what he considers the major problems with the push for autonomous vehicles today and specifically his criticisms of Elon Musk, Tesla, and other companies looking to make autonomous vehicles a reality. Although Michael is not against the idea of autonomous vehicles he is pointedly critical of the approach taken by Musk and others to make them a reality and argues that such approaches are a danger to the public. In fact, DeKort says, the current approaches are reckless and could lead to great harm. In addition to discussing the push for autonomous vehicles and Michael's criticisms of Musk, et al. we also discuss whistleblowing and COVID-19 in this fascinating conversation. SUPPORT PARALLAX VIEWSON PATREON! FORBONUS CONTENTANDARCHIVED EPISODES!

There's no way you will ever fully understand life conceptually so answers are made up. Only in the space of silence can you listen to what the moments of life have to say without making up answers… The more attachment there is to your given name, the more this creates a delusional self. When this is exposed it doesn't lead to knowing who you are, it leads to an awareness of who you are not… When there's not the constant push or pull to fulfill some self-satisfying pleasure, the mind settles and the Universe works with your higher frequency for its betterment… It's the selfish view of satisfying “I” that keeps you from the vision of seeing your own light. This vision of light only occurs when your view comes from looking inward… The conditioned mind creates a view based on unconscious wanting. It's difficult to break this because most of what is done reinforces this unconsciousness; a conscious mind is simply aware of awareness… ~ Michael Cupo   In this episode, Michael Cupo talks about the Principles of The Conditioned Mind and other thoughts in between! Michael Cupo was born in Newark NJ in 1958 and he is one of six children. There was always plenty of love in his life, but it seemed he always felt like something was missing. Although Michael had every opportunity a person could want, for some reason he always made decisions that weren't conducive to his well being. He started using alcohol, drugs, and gambling at the age of thirteen which is when it seemed like his life went in a completely different direction. Michael got married, bought a house, and had two children, although, by society's standards his life was seen as a success, something was still missing. That's why he said it seemed like because my life was only better on the material plane; he still had something in him that didn't allow him to enjoy life. Michael has since come to understand what this something was. His struggles with life were all self-inflicted, mainly because of the missing ingredient of love in his life; not the love he was given, but the ability to give love. This is what led him to the writing of his book “It's Monday Only in Your Mind: You Are Not Your Thoughts.” What he has come to understand is nothing new, but it's unique in the way that he sees it. What Michael sees is at such a practical level that anyone who thinks they are not getting the most out of their life will be able to understand it. He has since found the peace he always sought.   To learn more about Michael Cupo please visit his website http://mondayinyourmind.com/ For Intro-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/aquestforwellbeingpodcast Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast

Michael was born in the Ironbound section of Newark NJ in 1958. Born of Italian descent, and one of six children. He graduated from East Side High School in 1976. After high school, he mainly worked in his father's restaurant until he sold it in 1986. Although he was part of a very close and loving family, he seemed to always feel like something was amiss inside. His mother and father afforded him every opportunity to get ahead in life, but he always seemed to make the wrong decision. This continued to happen until June of 1987, which is when it seemed like his life went in a completely different direction. To Michael, it seemed that way because although his life got better on the material plane, he still did not have a sense of completeness within. Quotes from Michael [03:35] The reason why a person gets addicted to anything, is because the inward tells you to reach out for something. You need something to fill your void. [10:45] We're all addicts, we just use different things. Society only addresses the ones that are devastating. [11:18] If you can't just be with yourself, without needing to reach for something, that's the question. Why? [12:02] You become distracted by the distractions that distract you. [14:17] The thought is energy. It comes into your head, and what you do with it from there determines your life. [16:20] The labels that we apply to things, destroy us. They keep us entrapped in our suffering. That's what the conditioned mind is. [24:33] It's your own conditioning that limits you. Your own mind tells you to do something, and the same mind, questions why it was done. [28:36] The more that you can spend your life in the present moment, the more at peace you're going to be. [33:25] The older you get, the more conditioning you have, and the more of a puppet you become, and society is the puppeteer. [36:00] Your body is always in the present moment, your mind is all over the place. When you develop your body as an anchor, you put yourself in harmony with life, with universal energy. Timestamps. [14:58] How Michael embarked on his book writing. [18:13] Michael's experience and lessons learned while promoting his book. [21:24] Michael's experience with a fan Do you live a life that you've always wanted and you're still not happy? Are you not getting the most out of your life? Then it's time for you to look within and find out why. Joining us in the studio today is the author of It's Monday Only in your Mind, Michael Cupo. [01:56] The story behind the book, It's Monday Only in your Mind. Michael had addiction problems when he was young. He was, however, able to conquer his addictions when he was 28; got a job, got married, and even started a family. It was 13 years later though, that the real change happened. Although Michael's life was going on just fine, Perfect job, perfect family, perfect life. He couldn't help but think of how he was going to be there for his kids. This act of unselfishness is what caused the chain reaction leading to Michael's deep reflections and thoughts about his life. [8:07] Conquering his alcohol and drug addiction. Describing it as one of the most pivotal moments of his life, Michael's eldest brother died as a result of addiction. At the time, Michael was only 26 and knee-deep in drug and alcohol addiction. The death of their eldest son broke Michael's parents, who gave Michael the ultimatum of either straightening up or getting out. This began Michael's 2-year process of quitting his addictions. [23:32] The conditioned mind. What Michael presents, is the next step in the evolutionary process. When you don't need to reach for anything and you're o.k with who you are, just the way you are, just as it is. You're not looking to change what's happening in the present moment. It's your own conditioning that limits you. Your own mind tells you to do something, and the same mind, questions why it was done. Once you're able to start looking at yourself and understanding that it's you, that it's your own mind that's the enemy, it's when you start to understand the conditioned mind and you no longer blame the world. [32:30] The rat race The beginning stages of why humanity has developed the way it has is because, from the moment you're born, you're given a name. It's your attachment to that name that the problem begins. You spend the rest of your life identifying the name with jobs, marital status, social status, likes, dislikes, this, and that, and in the process, you fail to understand. You miss the process. You fail to understand what humanity's existence is all about. As your attachments increase every day, you lose your true essence, you lose who you truly are in the process. And you start looking more outside yourself for the answers. It's nobody's fault, of course, it just how humanity and society have designed itself. Website: www.mondayinyourmind.com WordPress blog: www.michaelcupo40.wordpress.com Facebook Group: @itsmondayinyourmind Pinterest: @michaelcupo40 Twitter: @MichaelCupo1 Amazon Thanks for joining us, and be sure to connect with us on social media! Follow our Host: www.thejamesoconnoragency.com Facebook Twitter Instagram Follow our Podcast www.dharmicevolution.com Check out our YouTube channel! Join our community on dHarmic Evolution Community Facebook Group  

I meet Michael Quan this past year at Global Youth Leadership Summit 2019 in San Diego. Michael is a Stay at home Dad after a Successful Entrepreneurial Venture in IT consulting and was bought out 6 years ago. Both Michael and me attended our Entire Master University together which consisted of Two Unleash the Power within, Date with Destiny, Wealth Mastery and Life Mastery without ever meeting each other. Although Michael doesn't need to work for a living he still wants to grow and learn. He started a financial blog on how to manage your finances and was written in Business Insider on retiring early. Michael shares his story and a week in the life of Michael and his family in the article which gives people insight to what his life looks like. Michael is also going to be hosting a podcast with a very special guest in the Tony Robbins World and we will add to our show notes when the Podcast releases in 2020. We talk about the Emotional Flood Tony Robbins shared with us in 2015 and I have attached a link here: https://youtu.be/xcuAx-7eqvo Michael has many resources and tools that you can access through his website and even in the business Insider article which I have linked here in the Show Notes. www.financiallyalert.com https://www.businessinsider.com/spending-diary-early-retiree-millionaire-san-diego-california P.S. Here is link Michael wanted to share for all the parents on where Kids eat free https://www.financiallyalert.com/restaurants-where-kids-eat-free/

Host and Family Farmer Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com presents an overview of news from The Agri-World, including the question: "What extra farm products can be sold to China?" Next, we meet Michael Pearl, fifth-generation farmer and owner of The Pearl Farm. Although Michael grew up farming, he attended the University of Kansas on a football scholarship and graduated with a degree in advertising. He spent years working in New York and with large brands throughout the country. Eventually, his work led him back to Kansas City and to his family’s land. He continued his corporate advertising work, but being back on the land felt right, he said. Soon he began to plant vegetables for his family and friends. Before he knew it, his vegetable crops blossomed into a business. He set up a roadside vegetable stand and began offering his produce at area farmers markets and the VA Hospital and started selling to area restaurants. Finally, Doug opines about the pros and cons of having Solar Arrays on Family Farms.

THE GODFATHER When don Corleone’s youngest son, Michael, reluctantly joins the Mafia, he becomes involved in the inevitable cycle of violence and betrayal. Although Michael tries to maintain a normal relationship with his wife, Kay, he is drawn deeper into the family business. Alan and Craig are joined by director Adam Marcus to discuss art in time of bingeing, Adam’s career and production company Skeleton Crew Productions (@SkeletonCrewPro on twitter) as well as kick off Epic April with the greatest family epic of all time “The Godfather” on this week’s Matinee Heroes! Show Notes 0:53 Alan and Craig talk to Adam Marcus about his career, his company Skeleton Crew Productions and his upcoming projects 38:09 Discussion of "The Godfather" 1:03:44    Recasting 1:33:24    Double Feature 1:50:35    Final Thoughts 1:59:28    A preview next week's movie "Lawrence of Arabia" Next week Alan and Craig continue Epic Aprils with the desert historical epic "Lawrence of Arabia"

  Joining us today is Founder and CEO of Loeb Enterprises, Michael Loeb. Loeb Enterprises is an early stage venture investing company and an incubator for startups. Prior to Loeb Enterprises, Michael co-founded Synapse in 1992 with Jay Walker. Synapse then became the largest seller of consumer magazine subscriptions worldwide and now is a subsidiary of Time Warner. Along with Jay Walker, Michael assisted with the creation and early stage funding of Priceline. Although Michael was born in St. Louis, MO, he has been in New York since the age of one years old. He was your typical entrepreneur from early on, mowing lawns, having a lemonade stand, etc. However, it was not until he was fired from Time, Inc until he realized his entrepreneurial potential. Tune in to learn more of his story: Michael growing up Working at Time, Inc Why being fired can sometimes be important Creating Synapse Co-founded Priceline Selling his company for $800 million Creating Loeb Enterprises Helping founders Pros and Cons of being in NY as a founder Ambition Today Question of the Day™ : I have heard you say that you wish you had bet on yourself earlier in your life. How old were you when you quit Time Inc and how can people bet on themselves earlier in life?  The Single Greatest Piece of Advice: Members of the "A-list" can listen to exclusive A-list bonus clips here! If you are not a member yet be sure to join the Ambition Today A-list! Quote Of The Episode:  “It is hard to be an entrepreneur in your 30’s, if you didn’t have a big win in your 20’s.” Links from this episode: Loeb Enterprises LinkedIn Twitter Founder Institute Audible Visit Ambition Today on the Web: www.siskar.co/ambitiontoday Follow Kevin Siskar on Twitter: twitter.com/TheSiskar Follow Kevin Siskar on Instagram: instagram.com/thesiskar Follow Kevin Siskar on Facebook: facebook.com/kevin.siskar Add Kevin Siskar on Snapchat: snapchat.com/add/krsiskar Kevin Siskar brings you ambitious entrepreneurs inspired by Tim Ferriss Show, How I Built This with Guy Raz, Residual Income, Entrepreneur on Fire, NPR, HBR, TED Radio Hour, the StartUp podcast with Alex Blumberg by Gimlet Media, Pat Flynn, Tony Robbins, The Uncertain Hour, Bigger Pockets, Art of Charm, Dave Ramsey, Planet Money, Jocko Podcast, EntreLeadership, Zigler, APM Marketplace, This Week In Startups with Jason Calacanis, Mixergy, Seth Godin, Joe Rogan Experience, GaryVee, James Altucher, Monocle 24, How to Start a Startup, Crooked Media, and The $100 MBA Show with Omar Zenhom, and Casey Neistat. Be sure to listen and subscribe to Ambition Today in the iTunes Store for iOS (apple.co/1NRRPzL), on Google Play Music (goo.gl/LmmciJ), or on Stitcher for Android (bit.ly/1Rn01dy).

Michael Broderick is a United States Marine Corps veteran serving from 1986 to 1990 as a logistics/embarkation specialist with Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 167. Broderick's true passion however, has always been acting, and he's very excited to have landed his biggest role to date as Special Agent John Bowen on the third season of HBO hit series "True Detective." Not only do we get into Michael's history growing up in New Jersey, joining the Corps, and becoming an actor, but we also get into his passion giving back with veterans organizations like GallantFew, and being the father of a special needs child soon entering young adulthood. Although Michael's on the West Coast, we luckily were able to get him from a studio over there, so you'll hear a crystal clear connection like he's in the room with us. ...Pretty cool! As usual with SOFREP Radio, we also get into some interesting territory outside of our featured interview discussing various vivid dream stories, and also get into some great emails from you guys, the listeners, sent to sofrep.radio@sofrep.com. Be sure to check out True Detective on HBO which airs Sundays at 9 PM EST. People are raving about this season, and we hope to have Michael back on soon! As always, also be sure to check out PelicanCoolers.com and score a free 22 oz tumbler with your order when you add it to your cart from the drinkware section and use the promo code "SOFREP." Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

It used to be that customers had one basic cell phone that they used just to call or text people, and they would contact the phone's support center when things went wrong. Those days are long gone. Today's customers have multiple devices that are constantly connected, and they can interact with tech companies for more than just support questions. As the technology and mobile world changes, Samsung is also changing its attitude towards customer experience. Instead of what SVP Customer Care Michael Lawder calls the “break, fix model” where customers only came to the brand to fix their broken devices and then got on with their lives, Samsung is now focused on building lasting, meaningful relationships with its customers that go beyond the one-off service fixes. The idea is that as customers become more connected with their devices, they can also become more connected to the brand. More devices means there is more chance to build loyal Samsung customers for life. Samsung does this by aiming for high-quality customer service through a number of channels. It recently unveiled its truck on the streets of New York City that can service customers similar to how a food truck operates. If a customer needs help setting up their device, their screen to be fixed, or just a place to charge their phone, they can come aboard the truck and get the service done for free. Samsung is also expanding its chatbot ability by using bots to efficiently direct customers to a real person who can answer their questions. Although Michael admits the technology isn't completely there yet, the idea is that bots will be able to streamline support requests by texting customers a few questions to point them to the right human support agent. Future chatbots will be able to gather more information about customers, which will lead to more customized experiences. Samsung's new focus on the end-to-end customer journey means that the focus isn't just on selling a product or fixing something when it's broken—it's on building relationships throughout the entire customer journey. Building relationships that solve problems and improve customers' lives means that Samsung has to put resources into its programs. By delivering amazing experiences, studies have shown that customers invest more in the brand, which leads to a huge ROI. The internal Samsung motto for service is “Done plus one”, meaning that not only is the problem solved, but employees have the power and are encouraged to go above and beyond to delight customers and make them Samsung fans for life. It's not just customers who are connected to the products—employees are as well. Samsung lets its employees, especially those in the service areas, use their products for personal use so they can fall in love with them and naturally want to provide amazing service. The hope is that employees will be fueled by their own passion for the brand and products and want to share that with customers. Customers are more connected than ever before, and that connection will continue to grow with the IoT and as more devices become available. Companies like Samsung know the power of staying in touch with these connected customers to help them not only connect to their devices, but also to connect to the brand.

Michael R. Morris has blended his tax law expertise with his passion for music and entertainment, resulting in a practice that is unique. As a former trial lawyer for the IRS and a Certified Specialist in Taxation Law, Michael provides insightful resolutions to his clients’ complicated tax, estate and business transaction issues. In the entertainment industry, Michael has developed a strong reputation of providing valuable and effective business solutions in areas such as copyright and contractual matters. Although Michael’s core competency is within the tax arena and entertainment, he has developed significant expertise covering a wide range of businesses. His diverse client base includes major studio executives, recording artists (including Grammy winners), production companies, film and TV composers, talent agencies, payroll companies, skin healthcare companies, post production houses, software companies, and an award-winning winery.http://theccc.org/https://www.aimp.org/http://www.aes.orghttps://www.grammy.com/

Michael Tanzillo is an artist and designer based in New York. Michael holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from The Ohio State University and Master of Fine Arts degree from The Savannah College of Art and Design. Since 2004, Michael has worked professionally in a number of disciplines including painting, photography, web design, product design, branding, and 3D imaging. Michael has also worked as a Senior Artist at Blue Sky Animation studios lending his artistic talents to multiple Ice Age films, the Rio series, The Peanuts Movie, Epic, and the upcoming Ferdinand film. Along with his artistic work, Michael is a published author and educator.In 2015, Michael expanded into the world of interior design and space management. He fell in love with the process and immediately began renovating his own apartment to fit his life. Since then, he has used his gained knowledge to help others achieve the homes and work spaces they have always desired.Although Michael enlists the super powers of many talented artists and writers, he is the driving force behind Space Optimized and the one you will most likely be working with.Topics covered in this episode: Design, Minimalism, Tiny House Movement, Collaboration in Creativity, Curiosity, Purpose & Passion, and so much more.Website: https://spaceoptimized.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/spaceoptimizedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/spaceoptimized/Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpaceOptimized

Born in England of Jamaican parents (her mother Vera an art historian and museologist and her father Charles an actor/broadcaster/comedian), Michael received her earliest education and what she considers her most formative years abroad. At the age of ten, she migrated to the United States with her mother and two siblings. Living in Maryland and later Washington, DC, Michael slowly adjusted to the American way of life. She went on to study acting at Howard University for her undergraduate degree and continued at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts for her Masters. Before Michael's work in film and television, she enjoyed memorable performances on stages throughout the country, most notably is her experience on Broadway in the critically acclaimed Ragtime. Although Michael is automatically considered an African-American, because of her international background she eagerly acknowledges that she is more specifically an African/British/Jamaican/American and any attempt to exclude any part of that reality would be an incorrect representation of who she truly is. The actress Michael Hyatt has been a part of some of the television’s most iconic series – from “The West Wing,” to “The Wire,” “True Detective,” and a hilarious role on the web series “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.” Her recent turn on the silver screen was in “Night Crawler,” starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Hyatt currently stars as Detective Sheila Muncie on the award-winning Showtime drama series “Ray Donovan,”  Also the New FX's Snowfall - John Singleton &  Short Film -Dara Ju. Thank You for checking out Hollywood Breakthrough Show This podcast main purpose is to serve up positive information. Join us at Hollywood Breakthrough Show, as we interview some of the most talented people in the business, which names you may, or may not know! But you have seen their work! Whether they're well- established veterans of the business, or current up and comers, these are the people who are making a living in Hollywood. Screenwriters, directors, producers and entertainment industry professionals share inside perspective on writing, filmmaking, breaking into Hollywood and navigating SHOW BUSINESS, along with stories of their journey to success! HELP SPREAD THE WORD PLEASE! SCREENWRITERS, DIRECTORS, AUTHORS, we would love to help spread the word about your Film, Book, Crowdfunding, etc., Contact us! (EMAIL: Info@hollywoodbreakthrough.com ) See Videos of all interviews at Hollywood Breakthrough Show Please subscribe in iTunes and write us a review! Follow us on: Social Media Sites | Twitter @TheBreakThur| Facebook: facebook.com/HollywoodBreakthroughPodcast Subscribe! Or, Please contact us for Interviews or Sponsorship of an episode! Hollywood Breakthrough Show Website (EMAIL: Info@hollywoodbreakthrough.com ) View Apps Sponsor: Press and hold links to visit the page: Hollywood Hero Agent Fenix Hill Pro Scottie The Baby Dino  

In this episode, best selling author, Michael Bungay Stanier and I have an in-depth discussion about his latest book entitled The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever. Michael provides a rich insight into the power of questioning and the role it plays in empowering those around us. Although Michael’s work is deeply rooted and directed toward the corporate world, there is excellent takeaway value for all educators who listen to this podcast. Great teaching is all about asking great questions. The themes of staying curious, the importance of reflection, and being more comfortable with silence are also explored during this episode to emphasize just how critical a role they play in helping to construct a meaningfully rich learning environment for our students. There is no doubt that you will find immediate takeaway value in this podcast with Michael Bungay Stanier. Bio: Michael Bungay Stanier is the Senior Partner of Box of Crayons, a company that helps organizations do less Good Work and more Great Work. Box of Crayons is best known for its coaching programs, which give busy managers practical tools to coach in 10 minutes or less. On the way to founding Box of Crayons in 2002, Michael lived in Australia, England, the United States and Canada (his current home), where he worked in the fields of innovation and change management. He’s written a number of books, the best known of which is Do More Great Work, with almost 100,000 copies sold. He’s proudest of End Malaria, a collection of essays about Great Work by thought leaders that has raised $400,000 for Malaria No More. His latest book, The Coaching Habit, is already being called a modern classic. To balance all this out, Michael was banned from his high school graduation for “the balloon incident,” was sued by one of his law school lecturers for defamation and managed to give himself a concussion while digging a hole as a labourer...He was the first Canadian Coach of the Year and is a Rhodes Scholar. Connect with Michael: Website: http://www.boxofcrayons.biz/homepage-2/ Twitter: @boxofcrayons LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/michaelbungaystanier Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boxofcrayons.biz/?fref=ts Themes Discussed: Empowerment, The Power of Questioning, Inquiry Teaching, Well-Being, The Coaching Habit, Reflection, Maximizing Impact, The Meaning of Work

Michael Malice and I discuss the merits and demerits of voting -- a contentious subject among libertarians. Although Michael is wrong as usual, it's still fun to talk to him.

Administration of the Local Universe (366.1) 33:0.1 WHILE the Universal Father most certainly rules over his vast creation, he functions in a local universe administration through the person of the Creator Son. The Father does not otherwise personally function in the administrative affairs of a local universe. These matters are intrusted to the Creator Son and to the local universe Mother Spirit and to their manifold children. The plans, policies, and administrative acts of the local universe are formed and executed by this Son, who, in conjunction with his Spirit associate, delegates executive power to Gabriel and jurisdictional authority to the Constellation Fathers, System Sovereigns, and Planetary Princes. 1. Michael of Nebadon (366.2) 33:1.1 Our Creator Son is the personification of the 611,121st original concept of infinite identity of simultaneous origin in the Universal Father and the Eternal Son. The Michael of Nebadon is the “only-begotten Son” personalizing this 611,121st universal concept of divinity and infinity. His headquarters is in the threefold mansion of light on Salvington. And this dwelling is so ordered because Michael has experienced the living of all three phases of intelligent creature existence: spiritual, morontial, and material. Because of the name associated with his seventh and final bestowal on Urantia, he is sometimes spoken of as Christ Michael. (366.3) 33:1.2 Our Creator Son is not the Eternal Son, the existential Paradise associate of the Universal Father and the Infinite Spirit. Michael of Nebadon is not a member of the Paradise Trinity. Nevertheless our Master Son possesses in his realm all of the divine attributes and powers that the Eternal Son himself would manifest were he actually to be present on Salvington and functioning in Nebadon. Michael possesses even additional power and authority, for he not only personifies the Eternal Son but also fully represents and actually embodies the personality presence of the Universal Father to and in this local universe. He even represents the Father-Son. These relationships constitute a Creator Son the most powerful, versatile, and influential of all divine beings who are capable of direct administration of evolutionary universes and of personality contact with immature creature beings. (366.4) 33:1.3 Our Creator Son exerts the same spiritual drawing power, spirit gravity, from the headquarters of the local universe that the Eternal Son of Paradise would exert if he were personally present on Salvington, and more; this Universe Son is also the personification of the Universal Father to the universe of Nebadon. Creator Sons are personality centers for the spiritual forces of the Paradise Father-Son. Creator Sons are the final power-personality focalizations of the mighty time-space attributes of God the Sevenfold. (367.1) 33:1.4 The Creator Son is the vicegerent personalization of the Universal Father, the divinity co-ordinate of the Eternal Son, and the creative associate of the Infinite Spirit. To our universe and all its inhabited worlds the Sovereign Son is, to all practical intents and purposes, God. He personifies all of the Paradise Deities which evolving mortals can discerningly comprehend. This Son and his Spirit associate are your creator parents. To you, Michael, the Creator Son, is the supreme personality; to you, the Eternal Son is supersupreme — an infinite Deity personality. (367.2) 33:1.5 In the person of the Creator Son we have a ruler and divine parent who is just as mighty, efficient, and beneficent as would be the Universal Father and the Eternal Son if both were present on Salvington and engaged in the administration of the affairs of the universe of Nebadon. 2. The Sovereign of Nebadon (367.3) 33:2.1 Observation of Creator Sons discloses that some resemble more the Father, some the Son, while others are a blend of both their infinite parents. Our Creator Son very definitely manifests traits and attributes which more resemble the Eternal Son. (367.4) 33:2.2 Michael elected to organize this local universe, and herein he now reigns supreme. His personal power is limited by the pre-existent gravity circuits centering at Paradise and by the reservation on the part of the Ancients of Days of the superuniverse government of all final executive judgments regarding the extinction of personality. Personality is the sole bestowal of the Father, but the Creator Sons, with the approval of the Eternal Son, do initiate new creature designs, and with the working co-operation of their Spirit associates they may attempt new transformations of energy-matter. (367.5) 33:2.3 Michael is the personification of the Paradise Father-Son to and in the local universe of Nebadon; therefore, when the Creative Mother Spirit, the local universe representation of the Infinite Spirit, subordinated herself to Christ Michael upon the return from his final bestowal on Urantia, the Master Son thereby acquired jurisdiction over “all power in heaven and on earth.” (367.6) 33:2.4 This subordination of the Divine Ministers to the Creator Sons of the local universes constitutes these Master Sons the personal repositories of the finitely manifestable divinity of the Father, Son, and Spirit, while the creature-bestowal experiences of the Michaels qualify them to portray the experiential divinity of the Supreme Being. No other beings in the universes have thus personally exhausted the potentials of present finite experience, and no other beings in the universes possess such qualifications for solitary sovereignty. (367.7) 33:2.5 Although Michael’s headquarters is officially located on Salvington, the capital of Nebadon, he spends much of his time visiting the constellation and system headquarters and even the individual planets. Periodically he journeys to Paradise and often to Uversa, where he counsels with the Ancients of Days. When he is away from Salvington, his place is assumed by Gabriel, who then functions as regent of the universe of Nebadon. 3. The Universe Son and Spirit (368.1) 33:3.1 While pervading all the universes of time and space, the Infinite Spirit functions from the headquarters of each local universe as a specialized focalization acquiring full personality qualities by the technique of creative co-operation with the Creator Son. As concerns a local universe, the administrative authority of a Creator Son is supreme; the Infinite Spirit, as the Divine Minister, is wholly co-operative though perfectly co-ordinate. (368.2) 33:3.2 The Universe Mother Spirit of Salvington, the associate of Michael in the control and administration of Nebadon, is of the sixth group of Supreme Spirits, being the 611,121st of that order. She volunteered to accompany Michael on the occasion of his liberation from Paradise obligations and has ever since functioned with him in creating and governing his universe. (368.3) 33:3.3 The Master Creator Son is the personal sovereign of his universe, but in all the details of its management the Universe Spirit is codirector with the Son. While the Spirit ever acknowledges the Son as sovereign and ruler, the Son always accords the Spirit a co-ordinate position and equality of authority in all the affairs of the realm. In all his work of love and life bestowal the Creator Son is always and ever perfectly sustained and ably assisted by the all-wise and ever-faithful Universe Spirit and by all of her diversified retinue of angelic personalities. Such a Divine Minister is in reality the mother of spirits and spirit personalities, the ever-present and all-wise adviser of the Creator Son, a faithful and true manifestation of the Paradise Infinite Spirit. (368.4) 33:3.4 The Son functions as a father in his local universe. The Spirit, as mortal creatures would understand, enacts the role of a mother, always assisting the Son and being everlastingly indispensable to the administration of the universe. In the face of insurrection only the Son and his associated Sons can function as deliverers. Never can the Spirit undertake to contest rebellion or defend authority, but ever does the Spirit sustain the Son in all of everything he may be required to experience in his efforts to stabilize government and uphold authority on worlds tainted with evil or dominated by sin. Only a Son can retrieve the work of their joint creation, but no Son could hope for final success without the incessant co-operation of the Divine Minister and her vast assemblage of spirit helpers, the daughters of God, who so faithfully and valiantly struggle for the welfare of mortal men and the glory of their divine parents. (368.5) 33:3.5 Upon the completion of the Creator Son’s seventh and final creature bestowal, the uncertainties of periodic isolation terminate for the Divine Minister, and the Son’s universe helper becomes forever settled in surety and control. It is at the enthronement of the Creator Son as a Master Son, at the jubilee of jubilees, that the Universe Spirit, before the assembled hosts, first makes public and universal acknowledgment of subordination to the Son, pledging fidelity and obedience. This event occurred in Nebadon at the time of Michael’s return to Salvington after the Urantian bestowal. Never before this momentous occasion did the Universe Spirit acknowledge subordination to the Universe Son, and not until after this voluntary relinquishment of power and authority by the Spirit could it be truthfully proclaimed of the Son that “all power in heaven and on earth has been committed to his hand.” (369.1) 33:3.6 After this pledge of subordination by the Creative Mother Spirit, Michael of Nebadon nobly acknowledged his eternal dependence on his Spirit companion, constituting the Spirit coruler of his universe domains and requiring all their creatures to pledge themselves in loyalty to the Spirit as they had to the Son; and there issued and went forth the final “Proclamation of Equality.” Though he was the sovereign of this local universe, the Son published to the worlds the fact of the Spirit’s equality with him in all endowments of personality and attributes of divine character. And this becomes the transcendent pattern for the family organization and government of even the lowly creatures of the worlds of space. This is, in deed and in truth, the high ideal of the family and the human institution of voluntary marriage. (369.2) 33:3.7 The Son and the Spirit now preside over the universe much as a father and mother watch over, and minister to, their family of sons and daughters. It is not altogether out of place to refer to the Universe Spirit as the creative companion of the Creator Son and to regard the creatures of the realms as their sons and daughters — a grand and glorious family but one of untold responsibilities and endless watchcare. (369.3) 33:3.8 The Son initiates the creation of certain of the universe children, while the Spirit is solely responsible for bringing into existence the numerous orders of spirit personalities who minister and serve under the direction and guidance of this selfsame Mother Spirit. In the creation of other types of universe personalities, both the Son and the Spirit function together, and in no creative act does the one do aught without the counsel and approval of the other. 4. Gabriel — The Chief Executive (369.4) 33:4.1 The Bright and Morning Star is the personalization of the first concept of identity and ideal of personality conceived by the Creator Son and the local universe manifestation of the Infinite Spirit. Going back to the early days of the local universe, before the union of the Creator Son and the Mother Spirit in the bonds of creative association, back to the times before the beginning of the creation of their versatile family of sons and daughters, the first conjoint act of this early and free association of these two divine persons results in the creation of the highest spirit personality of the Son and the Spirit, the Bright and Morning Star. (369.5) 33:4.2 Only one such being of wisdom and majesty is brought forth in each local universe. The Universal Father and the Eternal Son can, in fact do, create an unlimited number of Sons in divinity equal to themselves; but such Sons, in union with the Daughters of the Infinite Spirit, can create only one Bright and Morning Star in each universe, a being like themselves and partaking freely of their combined natures but not of their creative prerogatives. Gabriel of Salvington is like the Universe Son in divinity of nature though considerably limited in the attributes of Deity. (369.6) 33:4.3 This first-born of the parents of a new universe is a unique personality possessing many wonderful traits not visibly present in either ancestor, a being of unprecedented versatility and unimagined brilliance. This supernal personality embraces the divine will of the Son combined with the creative imagination of the Spirit. The thoughts and acts of the Bright and Morning Star will ever be fully representative of both the Creator Son and the Creative Spirit. Such a being is also capable of a broad understanding of, and sympathetic contact with, both the spiritual seraphic hosts and the material evolutionary will creatures. (370.1) 33:4.4 The Bright and Morning Star is not a creator, but he is a marvelous administrator, being the personal administrative representative of the Creator Son. Aside from creation and life impartation the Son and the Spirit never confer upon important universe procedures without Gabriel’s presence. (370.2) 33:4.5 Gabriel of Salvington is the chief executive of the universe of Nebadon and the arbiter of all executive appeals respecting its administration. This universe executive was created fully endowed for his work, but he has gained experience with the growth and evolution of our local creation. (370.3) 33:4.6 Gabriel is the chief officer of execution for superuniverse mandates relating to nonpersonal affairs in the local universe. Most matters pertaining to mass judgment and dispensational resurrections, adjudicated by the Ancients of Days, are also delegated to Gabriel and his staff for execution. Gabriel is thus the combined chief executive of both the super- and the local universe rulers. He has at his command an able corps of administrative assistants, created for their special work, who are unrevealed to evolutionary mortals. In addition to these assistants, Gabriel may employ any and all of the orders of celestial beings functioning in Nebadon, and he is also the commander in chief of “the armies of heaven” — the celestial hosts. (370.4) 33:4.7 Gabriel and his staff are not teachers; they are administrators. They were never known to depart from their regular work except when Michael was incarnated on a creature bestowal. During such bestowals Gabriel was ever attendant on the will of the incarnated Son, and with the collaboration of the Union of Days, he became the actual director of universe affairs during the later bestowals. Gabriel has been closely identified with the history and development of Urantia ever since the mortal bestowal of Michael. (370.5) 33:4.8 Aside from meeting Gabriel on the bestowal worlds and at the times of general- and special-resurrection roll calls, mortals will seldom encounter him as they ascend through the local universe until they are inducted into the administrative work of the local creation. As administrators, of whatever order or degree, you will come under the direction of Gabriel. 5. The Trinity Ambassadors (370.6) 33:5.1 The administration of Trinity-origin personalities ends with the government of the superuniverses. The local universes are characterized by dual supervision, the beginning of the father-mother concept. The universe father is the Creator Son; the universe mother is the Divine Minister, the local universe Creative Spirit. Every local universe is, however, blessed with the presence of certain personalities from the central universe and Paradise. At the head of this Paradise group in Nebadon is the ambassador of the Paradise Trinity — Immanuel of Salvington — the Union of Days assigned to the local universe of Nebadon. In a certain sense this high Trinity Son is also the personal representative of the Universal Father to the court of the Creator Son; hence his name, Immanuel. (370.7) 33:5.2 Immanuel of Salvington, number 611,121 of the sixth order of Supreme Trinity Personalities, is a being of sublime dignity and of such superb condescension that he refuses the worship and adoration of all living creatures. He bears the distinction of being the only personality in all Nebadon who has never acknowledged subordination to his brother Michael. He functions as adviser to the Sovereign Son but gives counsel only on request. In the absence of the Creator Son he might preside over any high universe council but would not otherwise participate in the executive affairs of the universe except as requested. (371.1) 33:5.3 This ambassador of Paradise to Nebadon is not subject to the jurisdiction of the local universe government. Neither does he exercise authoritative jurisdiction in the executive affairs of an evolving local universe except in the supervision of his liaison brethren, the Faithfuls of Days, serving on the headquarters of the constellations. (371.2) 33:5.4 The Faithfuls of Days, like the Union of Days, never proffer advice or offer assistance to the constellation rulers unless it is asked for. These Paradise ambassadors to the constellations represent the final personal presence of the Stationary Sons of the Trinity functioning in advisory roles in the local universes. Constellations are more closely related to the superuniverse administration than local systems, which are administered exclusively by personalities native to the local universe. 6. General Administration (371.3) 33:6.1 Gabriel is the chief executive and actual administrator of Nebadon. Michael’s absence from Salvington in no way interferes with the orderly conduct of universe affairs. During the absence of Michael, as recently on the mission of reunion of Orvonton Master Sons on Paradise, Gabriel is the regent of the universe. At such times Gabriel always seeks the counsel of Immanuel of Salvington regarding all major problems. (371.4) 33:6.2 The Father Melchizedek is Gabriel’s first assistant. When the Bright and Morning Star is absent from Salvington, his responsibilities are assumed by this original Melchizedek Son. (371.5) 33:6.3 The various subadministrations of the universe have assigned to them certain special domains of responsibility. While, in general, a system government looks after the welfare of its planets, it is more particularly concerned with the physical status of living beings, with biologic problems. In turn, the constellation rulers pay especial attention to the social and governmental conditions prevailing on the different planets and systems. A constellation government is chiefly exercised over unification and stabilization. Still higher up, the universe rulers are more occupied with the spiritual status of the realms. (371.6) 33:6.4 Ambassadors are appointed by judicial decree and represent universes to other universes. Consuls are representatives of constellations to one another and to the universe headquarters; they are appointed by legislative decree and function only within the confines of the local universe. Observers are commissioned by executive decree of a System Sovereign to represent that system to other systems and at the constellation capital, and they, too, function only within the confines of the local universe. (371.7) 33:6.5 From Salvington, broadcasts are simultaneously directed to the constellation headquarters, the system headquarters, and to individual planets. All higher orders of celestial beings are able to utilize this service for communication with their fellows scattered throughout the universe. The universe broadcast is extended to all inhabited worlds regardless of their spiritual status. Planetary intercommunication is denied only those worlds under spiritual quarantine. (372.1) 33:6.6 Constellation broadcasts are periodically sent out from the headquarters of the constellation by the chief of the Constellation Fathers. (372.2) 33:6.7 Chronology is reckoned, computed, and rectified by a special group of beings on Salvington. The standard day of Nebadon is equal to eighteen days and six hours of Urantia time, plus two and one-half minutes. The Nebadon year consists of a segment of the time of universe swing in relation to the Uversa circuit and is equal to one hundred days of standard universe time, about five years of Urantia time. (372.3) 33:6.8 Nebadon time, broadcast from Salvington, is the standard for all constellations and systems in this local universe. Each constellation conducts its affairs by Nebadon time, but the systems maintain their own chronology, as do the individual planets. (372.4) 33:6.9 The day in Satania, as reckoned on Jerusem, is a little less (1 hour, 4 minutes, 15 seconds) than three days of Urantia time. These times are generally known as Salvington or universe time, and Satania or system time. Standard time is universe time. 7. The Courts of Nebadon (372.5) 33:7.1 The Master Son, Michael, is supremely concerned with but three things: creation, sustenance, and ministry. He does not personally participate in the judicial work of the universe. Creators never sit in judgment on their creatures; that is the exclusive function of creatures of high training and actual creature experience. (372.6) 33:7.2 The entire judicial mechanism of Nebadon is under the supervision of Gabriel. The high courts, located on Salvington, are occupied with problems of general universe import and with the appellate cases coming up from the system tribunals. There are seventy branches of these universe courts, and they function in seven divisions of ten sections each. In all matters of adjudication there presides a dual magistracy consisting of one judge of perfection antecedents and one magistrate of ascendant experience. (372.7) 33:7.3 As regards jurisdiction, the local universe courts are limited in the following matters: (372.8) 33:7.4 1. The administration of the local universe is concerned with creation, evolution, maintenance, and ministry. The universe tribunals are, therefore, denied the right to pass upon those cases involving the question of eternal life and death. This has no reference to natural death as it obtains on Urantia, but if the question of the right of continued existence, life eternal, comes up for adjudication, it must be referred to the tribunals of Orvonton, and if decided adversely to the individual, all sentences of extinction are carried out upon the orders, and through the agencies, of the rulers of the supergovernment. (372.9) 33:7.5 2. The default or defection of any of the Local Universe Sons of God which jeopardizes their status and authority as Sons is never adjudicated in the tribunals of a Son; such a misunderstanding would be immediately carried to the superuniverse courts. (372.10) 33:7.6 3. The question of the readmission of any constituent part of a local universe — such as a local system — to the fellowship of full spiritual status in the local creation subsequent to spiritual isolation must be concurred in by the high assembly of the superuniverse. (373.1) 33:7.7 In all other matters the courts of Salvington are final and supreme. There is no appeal and no escape from their decisions and decrees. (373.2) 33:7.8 However unfairly human contentions may sometimes appear to be adjudicated on Urantia, in the universe justice and divine equity do prevail. You are living in a well-ordered universe, and sooner or later you may depend upon being dealt with justly, even mercifully. 8. The Legislative and Executive Functions (373.3) 33:8.1 On Salvington, the headquarters of Nebadon, there are no true legislative bodies. The universe headquarters worlds are concerned largely with adjudication. The legislative assemblies of the local universe are located on the headquarters of the one hundred constellations. The systems are chiefly concerned with the executive and administrative work of the local creations. The System Sovereigns and their associates enforce the legislative mandates of the constellation rulers and execute the judicial decrees of the high courts of the universe. (373.4) 33:8.2 While true legislation is not enacted at the universe headquarters, there do function on Salvington a variety of advisory and research assemblies, variously constituted and conducted in accordance with their scope and purpose. Some are permanent; others disband upon the accomplishment of their objective. (373.5) 33:8.3 The supreme council of the local universe is made up of three members from each system and seven representatives from each constellation. Systems in isolation do not have representation in this assembly, but they are permitted to send observers who attend and study all its deliberations. (373.6) 33:8.4 The one hundred councils of supreme sanction are also situated on Salvington. The presidents of these councils constitute the immediate working cabinet of Gabriel. (373.7) 33:8.5 All findings of the high universe advisory councils are referred either to the Salvington judicial bodies or to the legislative assemblies of the constellations. These high councils are without authority or power to enforce their recommendations. If their advice is founded on the fundamental laws of the universe, then will the Nebadon courts issue rulings of execution; but if their recommendations have to do with local or emergency conditions, they must pass down to the legislative assemblies of the constellation for deliberative enactment and then to the system authorities for execution. These high councils are, in reality, the universe superlegislatures, but they function without the authority of enactment and without the power of execution. (373.8) 33:8.6 While we speak of universe administration in terms of “courts” and “assemblies,” it should be understood that these spiritual transactions are very different from the more primitive and material activities of Urantia which bear corresponding names. (373.9) 33:8.7 [Presented by the Chief of the Archangels of Nebadon.]

In the aftermath of a very sad Supernatural mid-season finale, Woo Kim and Michael J. Petty return to the podcasting world for a Smallville Retro Review of 4x18 Spirit. Yes, the prom episode. They couldn't pass up the opportunity for some promaganda and had to cover this episode. Although Michael gets upset about Lifehouse's song choice, Woo is there to keep him on his rocker. So enjoy this latest episode of ATA's Smallville Retro Reviews, and come back next time for our Christmas episode of Retro Reviews feat. Lexmas and A Very Supernatural Christmas...Nuff said!

What if our spirit teachers, or angels, could contact us directly to help us find our way—would you listen? Really, this is a corollary question to one I ask often: will you listen to the guidance that you receive, whether it comes in the form of an inner knowing, or a synchronistic occurrence…or an inner voice? Michael McAdams has felt a sense of destiny and purpose his entire life. Brought up in the Pentecostal church, Michael’s uncle was a fiery Pentecostal preacher. Although Michael has always felt more spiritual than religious, communication from the highest possible source has been his goal, as he enables his mind to receive information and direction that allows him to help the greatest number of people. Michael is the publisher of An Angel Told Me So , a book of the messages and teachings that Michael and his mother, Wilma Jean Jones, received. Find Michael McAdams at: www.spiritspeaks.com ( www.spiritspeaks.com ) Find Laurie Seymour at: The Baca Institute ( https://thebacainstitute.com/ ) For those who want a deeper connection with their own inner guidance system, check out Turaya Meditation Live Online ( https://thebacainstitute.com/turaya-2/ ) *Discover your* Creative Innovator Style! Why would you want to know that? Because trying to innovate in ways that fight your natural way of creating, could be what’s standing in the way of turning your ideas into reality. Click here to take the quiz now: Creative Innovator Quiz ( https://thebacainstitute.com/creative-innovator-quiz/ ) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wisdom-talk-radio/donations