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Podcast 364 What are the solid basics of becoming more productive that anyone can use today? That's the question I'm answering this week.  You can subscribe to this podcast on: Podbean | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify | TUNEIN Links: Email Me | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Linkedin Get Your Copy Of Your Time, Your Way: Time Well Managed, Life Well Lived The Time Sector System 5th Year Anniversary The YouTube Time Sector System Playlist Take The NEW COD Course The Working With… Weekly Newsletter Carl Pullein Learning Centre Carl's YouTube Channel Carl Pullein Coaching Programmes Subscribe to my Substack  The Working With… Podcast Previous episodes page Script | 364 Hello, and welcome to episode 364 of the Your Time, Your Way Podcast. A podcast to answer all your questions about productivity, time management, self-development and goal planning. My name is Carl Pullein, and I am your host of this show. When I was little, a police officer lived in our village. The police service provided his home, and his job was to look after the local community. Sargeant Morris was my first introduction to the police, and he taught me some valuable lessons—not least about the importance of being a law-abiding citizen.  Yet, a lesson he taught me that I never realised how important it was until later was the power of daily routines. Each morning at 8:00 am, Sergeant Morris would walk up and down the main street in our village, ensuring that the schoolchildren got to school safely.  He was also there when we returned from school at the end of the day. I'm sure there were days he was unable to be there, but all I remember is his presence on the street when I went and came back from school.  He would wear his hi-viz jacket, chat with the parents and children, and make sure we crossed the road at the pedestrian crossing and that the traffic didn't drive too fast down the street.  I also remember because of his presence, seemingly day and night, crime was almost non-existent in our village.  It was the simple things—things that did not require a lot of effort or knowledge—that made Sergeant Morris a part of my childhood I will never forget.  And that is the same for you and me today. It's the little things repeated that make the biggest difference to our productivity.  And so, with that said, let me hand you over to the Mystery Podcast Voice for this week's question.  This week's question comes from Mike. Mike asks, hi Carl. What would you say are the basics of becoming more productive?  Hi Mike, thank you for your question. It's funny you've asked this question as it's something I have been thinking a lot about recently. What are the absolute basics of being productive? I would first start with something I wrote extensively about in Your Time, Your Way, and those are the three foundations:  Sleep, exercise, and diet.  How do you feel when you've had a bad night's sleep? Perhaps you only get two or three hours of sleep. How does your day go?  Probably not very well at all. You may be able to get through the morning, but when the afternoon comes around, you're going to slump.  If that poor sleep continues for a few days, and you're going to get sick.  Now let's flip that. How do you feel when you get a solid night's sleep? What does that do to your productivity?  The difference between the two is huge. On the days you get enough sleep, you'll focus better and for longer. You'll make less mistakes and, something rarely talked about, you'll make better decisions.  That helps you as it ensures that when you decide what to work on next it will more likely be the right thing. When you're sleep deprived, your decision making abilities sink. You'll pick up the easy, low-value tasks—because you feel you're doing something—but it will have little value and the important work will be left until another day.  And then you have a backlog of important stuff to do, stuff that's probably going To have deadlines which means you put yourself under pressure and a low level of anxiety sets in, distracting you and leaving you feeling exhausted at the end of the day.  Exercise, or as I prefer to call it “movement” is another of those simple productivity enhancers often overlooked.  Sitting at a table staring at a screen all day is not good for you. You know that don't you? You're a living, breathing organism that was designed to move. We know that exercise, and when I say exercise I don't mean going to a gym or out for a run, I mean some walking, chores around the house or some light stretching in your home or office, helps your thinking and creativity. It also helps to reduce stress and resets your brain after a hard session of focused work.  One of the best things you can do if you're working from home is to do some of your chores in-between sessions of sit-down work.  For example, do two hours of project work, then stop, and take your laundry to the washing machine or vacuum your living room. Then sit down and do another session of deep work.  You'll be amazed at how much work you get done with that little tip.  You don't need to buy expensive standing desks. Just make sure you get up every ninety-minutes to two hours and walk around. Make the bed, tidy up the kids' toys, wash the dishes, or water your plants.  Firstly you're getting away from the screen and secondly you're stirring your energy tanks, elevating your blood flow and engaging your lymph glands, which work to clear your body of harmful bacteria and toxins—which build up alarmingly if you're not moving.  But the most important part of that movement is it resets your brain so you come back to your work refreshed and focused.  And then there is diet.  I'm sure I don't have to remind you how you feel after your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. You eat all that food, then sit down on the sofa and within a few minutes you're falling asleep.  All those carbohydrates causes your pancreas to go into overdrive producing vast amounts of insulin which in the short term (say twenty-minutes) is a good thing. It's what comes next that depresses your energy levels—what we call the afternoon slump.  Yet it can be avoided if you keep the carbs to a minimum and choose a healthier option.  The Japanese have a wonderful eating culture called “Hara hachi bu” which translates to “eat until 80% full”. By not over-eating, the Japanese have learned that their energy levels remain reasonably consistent throughout the day, and of course another benefit is you are less likely to gain weight.  And while we're on the topic of food, I'm not a fan of pre-preparing your meals for the week. You may think this saves you time, but the act of cooking each evening is a great way to give you some movement, and take your mind away from the work you left behind.  That meal break is a great way to reset your brain and if you're doing it in the evening, you can use it to draw a line under your work for the day and prepare you for family or friends time.  So, Mike, if I was asked to give advice on how to improve productivity, those three things would be first piece of advice. Get these three things right, and your productivity will improve massively.  Yet, there are a few other little things you could do, all of which are simple and anyone can do. The first would be to plan the day the day before. In other words before you finish your work day, you stop for five to ten minutes and decide what the most important things you need to do tomorrow are.  We're not talking about reviewing all your projects and going through all your tasks on your to-do list.  If you're reasonably engaged with your work, you will know what's important. Write these down somewhere where you will see them when you start the next day and start with the item at the top of your list.  You can do this digitally or use a pen and piece of paper. It doesn't really matter. What matters is the list is short—no more than five or six things and that it's the first thing you see when you start your day.  This does three things for you. The first is it prevents you from procrastinating by giving you a list of tasks to get on with that need to be done. It also avoids you wasting your most focused time trying to decide what to work on and then getting pulled into other people's urgencies and emergencies.  Thirdly, it allows your subconscious brain to do what it's good at—mixing your education and experience together to come up with the most effective way to do something.  There is also the fourth benefit, which is you will find you relax more in the evening knowing there's not likely to be any unwelcome emergencies when you begin the day.  Another one I've found helpful is to protect time each day for your communications. Now, this one comes from my life-long love of history—particularly 20th century history.  When I read about some the 20th century's most iconic people, whether that be Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Agatha Christie, General Eisenhower or Charles De Gaulle, you'' find that we know so much about what they thought and felt about things because they wrote letters.  It was a habit in the early to mid 20th century for people to spend some time each day writing letters. It's true they didn't have the distractions we have today—no TV (or very limited channels), internet or social media so there was time to write.  Today, we don't protect time for communications, and that's lead to overwhelming backlogs of emails and messages to respond to. If you were to protect some time each day for your communications, while you may not be able to eliminate your message backlog entirely, you will prevent it from growing out of control.  And we don't want to be fooling ourselves in to believing people received less communications in those days. That's not true. They received more. There were telegrams arriving where a telegram boy would wait for you to read the message and then take your reply back to the telegram office.  And on top of that, we had to handwrite our responses, put the letter in an envelope, stick a stamp on it and take it to the post box. It was far more time consuming, yet people did it without complaint.  Sp there you go, Mike. I hope that has given you some ideas. I would strongly recommend focusing on your sleep, movement and diet—it's there where you'll find some quick results. The daily planning, and protecting time for communications and admin, will give you results, but will take a little longer to feel the benefits. Thank you for your question and thank you to your too for listening. It just remains for me to wish you all a very very productive week.   

 A nude day wedding is a sight to behold, and enjoy.Based on the post by m_storyman_x . Listen to the ► podcast at Explicit Novels. I love outdoor weddings, as long as the weather cooperates and the middle of July, although warm should be very cooperative. When I saw the invitation to the wedding of my wife's best friend's daughter I was thrilled to see it was going to be an outdoor wedding. Further, the wedding was being held at their grandparents secluded lake lodge, along with the reception.Now calling their place secluded is almost an understatement. The driveway leading down to the set of three twenty to fifty acre lakes is easily a mile and a half long, winding down through the woods and twisting around hills.The lodge is a huge three story rustic building with well over a dozen bedrooms, three bathrooms and two great rooms, one on the main floor and one in the lower level. There was also a twenty five foot wide balcony deck over a large fieldstone patio, a the width of the lodge. The patio extends beyond the balcony for nearly a hundred feet with a large fieldstone hearth and grill built into the hillside acting as a wall. The property also had a variety of paddle boats, canoes and a nice sized deck boat for tooling around the small lakes, gazebos with tables and chairs and lots and lots of woods and walking paths.They maintain this with the income from renting the facility out to groups, often having it rented every weekend for the entire summer. At fifty bucks a bedroom with a five hundred a night minimum, it has turned into a lucrative business for them some weekends bringing in over three grand for two nights.As I said, I was glad to see that the kids were going to be married outdoors. They are an interesting couple, Emily being a petite young lady, now nearly twenty four if my memory serves me, having spent years as a gymnast, and now teaching gymnastics. I had occasion to enjoy her abilities when she surprised me at home naked one time, and even the thought of that event still makes me hard today, especially thinking about her milk filled tits.Dan on the other hand is the opposite. Being a mountain of a man, and a football coach, he is so large he quite thoroughly dwarfs her.The couple started out quite reserved, but over the last couple years I have noticed a trend where Emily has worn more and more revealing clothing. Nothing tasteless, just, revealing. My wife of course never approves of that kind of wear, but that's just her.Anyway, here we were on the appointed day, July 14th, driving down the long gravel drive toward the lodge. I noticed quite a few cars parked around in front of the lodge, and added out suburban to the mix. I wondered who all they had invited as we followed the ribbons to the front door of the lodge."Hey Nancy, Mike!" Emily's mother Linda called as she opened the door, oddly wearing a bathrobe."Hi!" My wife said giving her a quick hug, which I also gave her as we stepped into the lodge. "You're not ready?" She asked."Actually, I am." Linda replied with a long face."I don't understand." My wife said curiously."Well, Dan and Emily decided that since they were getting married on national nude day, that they would have a nude wedding, and as Em says, she couldn't decide on a dress anyway."I thought I would be picking her up off the ground after that comment, as it was my wife's jaw about hit the floor, even if she didn't. "You mean that they're going to get married naked?""Uh huh. The whole wedding party." Linda said quietly, explaining her robe instead of a dress."That's terrible!" My wife said in shock. "Is there anything we can do? Why didn't you tell us?""Well, to be honest, all the guests are invited to participate, And well, I thought if I told you, you wouldn't come, and well, I was kind of hoping that you would, you know, that way at least that way I wouldn't feel quite so alone!?" Linda said with an almost pleading look on her face."You want me to go naked, too?" My wife squeaked."Most of the guest so far have, but you're the closest of my friends that are coming. It would really help me to get through this." Linda said pleadingly to her. For my part I was trying hard to not grin like a Cheshire cat and keep a straight face at the thought of seeing a lot of naked women."Well, I don't know. Just the ceremony?""No, the reception too." Linda said quietly."We could. You have a good looking body." I injected to my wife, hoping to help her along."Oh sure. You'd love that, seeing all those naked women." She said with a disgusted look, knowing full well where my mind was headed."That wasn't really what I was thinking." I lied."Yeah, right, and that bulge in your pants is a tennis ball you forgot to take out of your pocket?""Well." I said sheepishly."Ok hot shot, You think this is such a great idea, you go naked and tell me how much fun it is to walk around with your hard dick showing off all night.""As long as it's not just me, I say why not.""Men, you are disgusting animals sometimes." My wife shot at me with a scowl."It isn't my fault, I didn't pick the dress code, but if you don't think you can handle it, we don't have to undress." I said, knowing full well how she responded to challenges."I didn't say I couldn't handle it, I just said it was disgusting." My wife shot back."Hey. I didn't insinuate anything. I just said we didn't have to. It's up to you, I'll do whatever you want to." I said putting it squarely in her court. I could see Linda looking at my wife pleadingly."Fine! Just to help Linda!" She said to me in a very exasperated tone. "Where do we get undressed?" She asked Linda."You can use the first room. It's empty. You can hang your clothes in the closet or there are baskets on the floor by the bed. There are also lots of flip-flops for you to wear if you don't want to use your shoes." Linda said as she led my wife to the first bedroom. She stepped into the room with us and stood by the open door, watching me while she tried to chat with my wife.I quickly shed my shirt and slacks, hanging them on a hanger and putting them in the closet. I pulled off my shoes and socks, leaving my underwear for last, finally pulling it down and freeing my already hard dick. I was facing away from the door, but could see Linda in the mirror over the dresser, clearly trying to get a look. Finally I turned, letting her see my hard dick as I looked for a pair of flip-flops that fit. I saw her looking right at it, clearly enjoying the view, while my wife still had her back turned, folding her bra and underwear to put in the basket.I don't think Linda even realized that she had slipped her hand into her robe, spreading it enough for me to see one tit, as she stroked her fingers across her left nipple, still staring at my hard dick."Well here goes nothing!" My wife said, as she turned around to look toward Linda, who was snapped back to reality, pulling her robe back closed defensively."Absolutely gorgeous!" I said as my wife looked over at me."You would say that you horny bastard!" She said trying to hide a grin as she looked at my hard dick. "You are enjoying this way too much at the moment. Just wait till you have to walk out there with that hardon. Reality check! You can't tell when a woman is horny just by looking, but it kind of sticks out like a sore thumb for guys.""Nah. I'm just waiting for a chance to see Linda naked that's all. I mean we're naked and all, isn't she supposed to be too?" I joked, hoping to keep her thinking I had never seen, let alone had sex with Linda before. (but that is another story all together)"Men!" My wife said walking past Linda and out of the room.With a tiny grin, Linda spread her robe as I walked toward her, showing that she wasn't wearing anything but a pearl necklace."Very hot!" I whispered as I stepped past her to follow my wife to the stairs."You too." Linda whispered in reply.I followed Nancy down the stairs to the lower level and out toward the patio. I could see a large number of chairs set up in rows along the patio, facing the lake. The whole patio was surrounded with white poles wrapped with flowers and it looked like small lights. All of this led to a trellis arch at the end of the Patio where the bride and groom would be standing, flowers and garlands of greenery flowing and wrapping around it. Quite a few of the seats were already full, and from my position it was clear the vast majority of them were as naked as we were. I followed my wife out the French doors and down the center aisle, looking at the people seated. The older couples for the most part had not disrobed, a few reducing to just their bra and panties. Mostly all of the mid thirty and below were completely naked. I saw quite a few couples sitting, guys with hard dicks sticking up and lady's with exposed hard nipples. There also seemed to be quite a few single girls sitting in groups, all in their mid to late twenties. As we walked down the aisle my hard dick swinging with each step, seemed to draw their attention.We were only seated a few minutes when a couple young ladies came and sat next to me."This is really a beautiful setting, isn't it?" one of them asked, clearly eyeing my dick sticking up from my lap."It is. I like the flowers and the setting sun. A very romantic setting." I replied, trying to check out their bodies without my wife noticing."Oh I know. And doing it all naked. I need to do this when I get married. It is so fucking hot!" the second girl said."So you like this?" I asked the second girl."Oh yeah. I love being naked anyway, but around this many people is just so, exhilarating!" She said, followed by a deep sigh. "My name is Donna, what's yours?" She asked."Mike." I said as my wife elbowed me hard in the ribs. "You're friends with Emily?""Uh huh. We used to do gymnastics together." She said, still trying to look at my hard dick without looking like it."Good to meet you then." I said as the music started.First to come down the aisle was Linda, completely naked except for light blue heels and a string of white pearls. She looked down at my dick as she stepped to the row in front of me, giving us a small smile.It wasn't long before the groom and his groomsmen, all wearing nothing but black flip-flops and black bow ties, made their way up front with the priest, who was thankfully dressed.The brides' maids began walking down the aisle, each holding a bouquet of white roses with tiny bits of blue in them, up nearly between their tits, dressed in nothing but white heels and white pearl necklaces. Each girl, well-tanned with little or no hint of tan lines, made their way to the front, giving all the guys a good long look at their tits and each of their mounds, their curly pubic hair all trimmed into the shape of a heart. By the time the last of the four had made it to the front the entire wedding party had gotten over their nervousness and were sprouting hard dicks.Finally it was time for Emily to come down the aisle. She looked gorgeous, waking with her arm linked in her fathers, wearing white heels, a white and blue garter on one thigh, a string of white pearls and a white lace veil. Her full tanned tits wiggled and giggle enticingly with each step, reminding me of just how good they felt in my mouth, making my dick ratchet up one more notch. I was turned to face the aisle as she came down, the girl next to Donna, who's name I didn't know, backed up into me, pressing her bare ass against my hard dick. If I hadn't been standing next to my wife, I would have reached around and tweaked a nipple, but she would have killed me for that.I remember little of the actual ceremony, instead being distracted by the hand of the girl sitting next to me, gently stroking my leg down where my wife couldn't see, and staring at the practically perfect asses of the maids of honor only a dozen feet in front of me. I don't know how many people noticed the youngest of the four shudder as if she had a sudden chill during the ceremony, but I was sitting close enough to notice the single drop of her juices run down her leg from her pussy. It was definitely not sweat, despite the heat!Finally the ceremony ended and everyone cheered as the newly married couple were introduced before heading down the aisle. The setting sun and the flowered trellis a perfect background for the sexy bodies arrayed in front of us, including Emily. Each of the brides' maids paired up with their respective groomsman, each now sporting a hard dick, and followed a pair at a time down the aisle, followed by Linda and her husband.The crowd was then ushered out, starting at the front, to go through the traditional receiving line. My wife and I were not quite first, but very much toward the front. Each of the bride's maids gave me a nice hug, their tits either pressing into my chest or just teasing it with their nipples. Linda, gave me a huge hug, as she did my wife. To my surprise Emily gave me a huge hug and a subtle squeeze of the cock as I congratulated them.Finally free of the receiving line, we moved to the lower great room, and thankfully air conditioning, to snack on hors d'oeuvres until dinner, which would not be too far away, given the time."That was a pretty ceremony, wasn't it?" My wife asked as we shared a plate of cheese cubes and crackers."It was. Very nice." I agreed.Sandy, one of Linda's friends that we knew in passing, came up to chat. She was slightly round, not thin but not what I would call fat either, with large breasts and a very pleasant face. "So that was an interesting wedding, wasn't it?" she asked."Yes." My wife said, noting that she was busy staring at my hard dick more than anything else. "Not used to watching one naked though.""Oh me neither, I usually cry at weddings, this time I had to work not to cum just watching the groomsmen's hard dicks." She whispered a slight tint of pink coming to her face and chest."They did seem to sprout big ones didn't they?" Amber, a petite girl with tiny breasts and a very thin firm ass, one of the Emily's friends said as she walked up. "Jenny must have been so embarrassed though." She continued."Why?" My wife asked curiously."When she orgasmed standing in front of everyone? I think it was the first time she's ever been naked in front of anyone but the doctor." Amber replied. "I was surprised she agreed to do this.""I'm sure not too many people noticed." My wife said. "I wonder what they have on tap for dinner?" She asked, trying to change the subject."Why don't I go get us something to drink?" I said to my wife, wanting to dodge whatever came next. "Wha

 A nude day wedding is a sight to behold, and enjoy.Based on the post by m_storyman_x . Listen to the ► podcast at Explicit Novels. I love outdoor weddings, as long as the weather cooperates and the middle of July, although warm should be very cooperative. When I saw the invitation to the wedding of my wife's best friend's daughter I was thrilled to see it was going to be an outdoor wedding. Further, the wedding was being held at their grandparents secluded lake lodge, along with the reception.Now calling their place secluded is almost an understatement. The driveway leading down to the set of three twenty to fifty acre lakes is easily a mile and a half long, winding down through the woods and twisting around hills.The lodge is a huge three story rustic building with well over a dozen bedrooms, three bathrooms and two great rooms, one on the main floor and one in the lower level. There was also a twenty five foot wide balcony deck over a large fieldstone patio, a the width of the lodge. The patio extends beyond the balcony for nearly a hundred feet with a large fieldstone hearth and grill built into the hillside acting as a wall. The property also had a variety of paddle boats, canoes and a nice sized deck boat for tooling around the small lakes, gazebos with tables and chairs and lots and lots of woods and walking paths.They maintain this with the income from renting the facility out to groups, often having it rented every weekend for the entire summer. At fifty bucks a bedroom with a five hundred a night minimum, it has turned into a lucrative business for them some weekends bringing in over three grand for two nights.As I said, I was glad to see that the kids were going to be married outdoors. They are an interesting couple, Emily being a petite young lady, now nearly twenty four if my memory serves me, having spent years as a gymnast, and now teaching gymnastics. I had occasion to enjoy her abilities when she surprised me at home naked one time, and even the thought of that event still makes me hard today, especially thinking about her milk filled tits.Dan on the other hand is the opposite. Being a mountain of a man, and a football coach, he is so large he quite thoroughly dwarfs her.The couple started out quite reserved, but over the last couple years I have noticed a trend where Emily has worn more and more revealing clothing. Nothing tasteless, just, revealing. My wife of course never approves of that kind of wear, but that's just her.Anyway, here we were on the appointed day, July 14th, driving down the long gravel drive toward the lodge. I noticed quite a few cars parked around in front of the lodge, and added out suburban to the mix. I wondered who all they had invited as we followed the ribbons to the front door of the lodge."Hey Nancy, Mike!" Emily's mother Linda called as she opened the door, oddly wearing a bathrobe."Hi!" My wife said giving her a quick hug, which I also gave her as we stepped into the lodge. "You're not ready?" She asked."Actually, I am." Linda replied with a long face."I don't understand." My wife said curiously."Well, Dan and Emily decided that since they were getting married on national nude day, that they would have a nude wedding, and as Em says, she couldn't decide on a dress anyway."I thought I would be picking her up off the ground after that comment, as it was my wife's jaw about hit the floor, even if she didn't. "You mean that they're going to get married naked?""Uh huh. The whole wedding party." Linda said quietly, explaining her robe instead of a dress."That's terrible!" My wife said in shock. "Is there anything we can do? Why didn't you tell us?""Well, to be honest, all the guests are invited to participate, And well, I thought if I told you, you wouldn't come, and well, I was kind of hoping that you would, you know, that way at least that way I wouldn't feel quite so alone!?" Linda said with an almost pleading look on her face."You want me to go naked, too?" My wife squeaked."Most of the guest so far have, but you're the closest of my friends that are coming. It would really help me to get through this." Linda said pleadingly to her. For my part I was trying hard to not grin like a Cheshire cat and keep a straight face at the thought of seeing a lot of naked women."Well, I don't know. Just the ceremony?""No, the reception too." Linda said quietly."We could. You have a good looking body." I injected to my wife, hoping to help her along."Oh sure. You'd love that, seeing all those naked women." She said with a disgusted look, knowing full well where my mind was headed."That wasn't really what I was thinking." I lied."Yeah, right, and that bulge in your pants is a tennis ball you forgot to take out of your pocket?""Well." I said sheepishly."Ok hot shot, You think this is such a great idea, you go naked and tell me how much fun it is to walk around with your hard dick showing off all night.""As long as it's not just me, I say why not.""Men, you are disgusting animals sometimes." My wife shot at me with a scowl."It isn't my fault, I didn't pick the dress code, but if you don't think you can handle it, we don't have to undress." I said, knowing full well how she responded to challenges."I didn't say I couldn't handle it, I just said it was disgusting." My wife shot back."Hey. I didn't insinuate anything. I just said we didn't have to. It's up to you, I'll do whatever you want to." I said putting it squarely in her court. I could see Linda looking at my wife pleadingly."Fine! Just to help Linda!" She said to me in a very exasperated tone. "Where do we get undressed?" She asked Linda."You can use the first room. It's empty. You can hang your clothes in the closet or there are baskets on the floor by the bed. There are also lots of flip-flops for you to wear if you don't want to use your shoes." Linda said as she led my wife to the first bedroom. She stepped into the room with us and stood by the open door, watching me while she tried to chat with my wife.I quickly shed my shirt and slacks, hanging them on a hanger and putting them in the closet. I pulled off my shoes and socks, leaving my underwear for last, finally pulling it down and freeing my already hard dick. I was facing away from the door, but could see Linda in the mirror over the dresser, clearly trying to get a look. Finally I turned, letting her see my hard dick as I looked for a pair of flip-flops that fit. I saw her looking right at it, clearly enjoying the view, while my wife still had her back turned, folding her bra and underwear to put in the basket.I don't think Linda even realized that she had slipped her hand into her robe, spreading it enough for me to see one tit, as she stroked her fingers across her left nipple, still staring at my hard dick."Well here goes nothing!" My wife said, as she turned around to look toward Linda, who was snapped back to reality, pulling her robe back closed defensively."Absolutely gorgeous!" I said as my wife looked over at me."You would say that you horny bastard!" She said trying to hide a grin as she looked at my hard dick. "You are enjoying this way too much at the moment. Just wait till you have to walk out there with that hardon. Reality check! You can't tell when a woman is horny just by looking, but it kind of sticks out like a sore thumb for guys.""Nah. I'm just waiting for a chance to see Linda naked that's all. I mean we're naked and all, isn't she supposed to be too?" I joked, hoping to keep her thinking I had never seen, let alone had sex with Linda before. (but that is another story all together)"Men!" My wife said walking past Linda and out of the room.With a tiny grin, Linda spread her robe as I walked toward her, showing that she wasn't wearing anything but a pearl necklace."Very hot!" I whispered as I stepped past her to follow my wife to the stairs."You too." Linda whispered in reply.I followed Nancy down the stairs to the lower level and out toward the patio. I could see a large number of chairs set up in rows along the patio, facing the lake. The whole patio was surrounded with white poles wrapped with flowers and it looked like small lights. All of this led to a trellis arch at the end of the Patio where the bride and groom would be standing, flowers and garlands of greenery flowing and wrapping around it. Quite a few of the seats were already full, and from my position it was clear the vast majority of them were as naked as we were. I followed my wife out the French doors and down the center aisle, looking at the people seated. The older couples for the most part had not disrobed, a few reducing to just their bra and panties. Mostly all of the mid thirty and below were completely naked. I saw quite a few couples sitting, guys with hard dicks sticking up and lady's with exposed hard nipples. There also seemed to be quite a few single girls sitting in groups, all in their mid to late twenties. As we walked down the aisle my hard dick swinging with each step, seemed to draw their attention.We were only seated a few minutes when a couple young ladies came and sat next to me."This is really a beautiful setting, isn't it?" one of them asked, clearly eyeing my dick sticking up from my lap."It is. I like the flowers and the setting sun. A very romantic setting." I replied, trying to check out their bodies without my wife noticing."Oh I know. And doing it all naked. I need to do this when I get married. It is so fucking hot!" the second girl said."So you like this?" I asked the second girl."Oh yeah. I love being naked anyway, but around this many people is just so, exhilarating!" She said, followed by a deep sigh. "My name is Donna, what's yours?" She asked."Mike." I said as my wife elbowed me hard in the ribs. "You're friends with Emily?""Uh huh. We used to do gymnastics together." She said, still trying to look at my hard dick without looking like it."Good to meet you then." I said as the music started.First to come down the aisle was Linda, completely naked except for light blue heels and a string of white pearls. She looked down at my dick as she stepped to the row in front of me, giving us a small smile.It wasn't long before the groom and his groomsmen, all wearing nothing but black flip-flops and black bow ties, made their way up front with the priest, who was thankfully dressed.The brides' maids began walking down the aisle, each holding a bouquet of white roses with tiny bits of blue in them, up nearly between their tits, dressed in nothing but white heels and white pearl necklaces. Each girl, well-tanned with little or no hint of tan lines, made their way to the front, giving all the guys a good long look at their tits and each of their mounds, their curly pubic hair all trimmed into the shape of a heart. By the time the last of the four had made it to the front the entire wedding party had gotten over their nervousness and were sprouting hard dicks.Finally it was time for Emily to come down the aisle. She looked gorgeous, waking with her arm linked in her fathers, wearing white heels, a white and blue garter on one thigh, a string of white pearls and a white lace veil. Her full tanned tits wiggled and giggle enticingly with each step, reminding me of just how good they felt in my mouth, making my dick ratchet up one more notch. I was turned to face the aisle as she came down, the girl next to Donna, who's name I didn't know, backed up into me, pressing her bare ass against my hard dick. If I hadn't been standing next to my wife, I would have reached around and tweaked a nipple, but she would have killed me for that.I remember little of the actual ceremony, instead being distracted by the hand of the girl sitting next to me, gently stroking my leg down where my wife couldn't see, and staring at the practically perfect asses of the maids of honor only a dozen feet in front of me. I don't know how many people noticed the youngest of the four shudder as if she had a sudden chill during the ceremony, but I was sitting close enough to notice the single drop of her juices run down her leg from her pussy. It was definitely not sweat, despite the heat!Finally the ceremony ended and everyone cheered as the newly married couple were introduced before heading down the aisle. The setting sun and the flowered trellis a perfect background for the sexy bodies arrayed in front of us, including Emily. Each of the brides' maids paired up with their respective groomsman, each now sporting a hard dick, and followed a pair at a time down the aisle, followed by Linda and her husband.The crowd was then ushered out, starting at the front, to go through the traditional receiving line. My wife and I were not quite first, but very much toward the front. Each of the bride's maids gave me a nice hug, their tits either pressing into my chest or just teasing it with their nipples. Linda, gave me a huge hug, as she did my wife. To my surprise Emily gave me a huge hug and a subtle squeeze of the cock as I congratulated them.Finally free of the receiving line, we moved to the lower great room, and thankfully air conditioning, to snack on hors d'oeuvres until dinner, which would not be too far away, given the time."That was a pretty ceremony, wasn't it?" My wife asked as we shared a plate of cheese cubes and crackers."It was. Very nice." I agreed.Sandy, one of Linda's friends that we knew in passing, came up to chat. She was slightly round, not thin but not what I would call fat either, with large breasts and a very pleasant face. "So that was an interesting wedding, wasn't it?" she asked."Yes." My wife said, noting that she was busy staring at my hard dick more than anything else. "Not used to watching one naked though.""Oh me neither, I usually cry at weddings, this time I had to work not to cum just watching the groomsmen's hard dicks." She whispered a slight tint of pink coming to her face and chest."They did seem to sprout big ones didn't they?" Amber, a petite girl with tiny breasts and a very thin firm ass, one of the Emily's friends said as she walked up. "Jenny must have been so embarrassed though." She continued."Why?" My wife asked curiously."When she orgasmed standing in front of everyone? I think it was the first time she's ever been naked in front of anyone but the doctor." Amber replied. "I was surprised she agreed to do this.""I'm sure not too many people noticed." My wife said. "I wonder what they have on tap for dinner?" She asked, trying to change the subject."Why don't I go get us something to drink?" I said to my wife, wanting to dodge whatever came next. "Wha

Hi Mike - it seems things can change at the blink of an eye... Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Ridley Funeral Home, The Advantaged Investor podcast from Raymond James Canada, The Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Team and RecycleMyElectronics.ca. If you would like to support the show, we do have partner opportunities available. Please email Toronto Mike at mike@torontomike.com

Bitesize Bitcoin Mining Transactions     Early Bitcoin adopter Mike Hearn writes to Satoshi on April 12, 2009 “Hi Satoshi, I read your paper on Bitcoin with great interest. I found it a bit confusing though – I believe it may be easier to follow if you provide some examples. Specifically, it's not quite clear to me what blocks contain” He then goes on to ask if only one chain is recording all of the transactions or “the story of the economy” as Mr. Hearn states. Satoshi responds 10 hours later “Hi Mike, I'm glad to answer any questions you have. If I get time, I ought to write a FAQ to supplement the paper” he follows with “There is only one global chain” The two continue their back and forth for 2 weeks, chatting about the protocol, even talking about sending transactions back and forth. Unfortunately for Mike Hearn, Satoshi doesn't directly answer the initial question, “what do blocks contain” But fortunately for you, at Ungovernable Misfits we have the Bitesize Bitcoin series.    In this episode of Bitesize Bitcoin, we will use our previous Bitesize's hash to extend our chain of understanding of Bitcoin block creation and cover how transactions make their way into a block to be recorded on the one global chain, forever.    https://ungovernablemisfits.com/

Welcome to this informative video on the topic of Legal Adult Use and Possession in NYC! In this video, we'll be discussing the recent legalization of cannabis for adults 21 and over in New York City. As of now, adults are allowed to possess up to three ounces of cannabis and up to 24 grams of concentrated cannabis for personal use. We'll explore the implications of this new law and what it means for residents of NYC who are interested in using cannabis for recreational purposes. We'll also discuss where it is permissible to smoke or vape cannabis in public, including the exceptions to the smoke-free air laws. Whether you're a long-time resident or a first-time visitor to the Big Apple, this video will provide valuable information about the legal use and possession of cannabis in NYC. So sit back, relax, and tune in to learn everything you need to know about the new cannabis laws in NYC! https://highny.com/

Life gravitates toward complexity -- but simplicity will help you move forward quickly and consistently. One of the most powerful ways to move forward is to create and refine meaningful life purpose and vision statements. Without them, you're like a driver on a long trip without GPS. We'd never think of taking a long trip somewhere without a roadmap, or clear directions, would we? So why wouldn't we be crystal clear about our life purpose and vision? Today's episode will help you, significantly. And, if you like the Courageous Nation podcast, become an official member -- free! Just text "Hi Mike" to (917) 724-0964. You'll get great texts from Mike during your week that will help you live with no fear, no limits, and develop courage as your new way of LIFE!

This episode is guaranteed to help you move forward with practical insights you can apply — immediately. Brace yourself and get ready to soar as Mike covers the first five of ten factors that will create incredible momentum for you. The five covered in this episode are as follows: 1. Taking 100% responsibility for your life. Stop waiting for someone else to do what you can do to change your life. Stop living with 99%, and give your life your ALL. 2. No longer limiting yourself. There are two limiting factors in your life, and no more — do you even know what they are? Until you do, you won't be able to reach your potential. 3. Not letting others predict your failure. Have you let your past performance give you a reputation that's hard to break out of? You can give yourself a new reputation — if you want it. 4. Working your T.A.P. Without this, nothing will work. 5. Focusing on your LEGACY, not just activity. When you focus ALL your efforts on your legacy, your life will go to the next level. Say no to lesser things, and start living for your legacy. Get encouraging texts from Mike during your week that will help you live with no limits, no fear, and no nonsense. Just text “Hi Mike” to (917) 724-0964. It's free, but it's one of the most valuable things you can do to stay fired UP! Don't forget to share this episode with family and friends who need help . . .

All right so we're gonna beat up on a prisoner is a little bit wrong to talk about the Freeport area or talk about things all right. Yes so would you tell me what you're running into with your praises and I'll tell you what I'm writing to tell you the very specific story. Because he's in the wilderness right now so you can hear us. He you know a decent souls business he did very very well the right one I only bought the properties all cash yep well they were praise like mad so we're just looking to get these things refi right the little cash out refi and pull pull some cash out we actually were looking to do is take him out of a personal name put into an LC actual smart sort deals and get some money out of it and we have been lingering with these deals for months it's just not a high priority right right on to the pop up and we got a deal 17 we gotta go fun and do this and occasionally around and kind of just strips to the back burner but. Like hello confrontation were absolutely going to get this thing done for make sure our partners get this cash out feels good and. On the phone the appraiser he's like a you the contact in my eye and it's actually my partners but it's me and I can what what do you need he's like you know I'm going to go look at him I came in there all been recently updated they're all looking really really good rents are section 8 we're getting 110 percent over the over the standard market rent yep and he's like that sounds great I'm like yeah we definitely need a regular appraisal for the value of the property and then if you could give us a rent to praise. He's like sure Mike awesome as I wanna head out there next week on like fantastic I think I have one side of the duplex that is not complete but it'll will be very very close it might be just some doorknobs and maybe the HVAC guy finishing up in his work with the other side of the duplex is 100 percent complete same finishes everything so you'll be able to evaluate that right and then the other 2 properties as well they're all duplexes and it just like crickets on the other end. Hi Mike you there is like there duplexes unlike gather duplexes he's like all right well let me get back to. Okay guy gets back to me and says Hey I'm not to be able to do those duplexes put it back in the hopper it's probably another 6 weeks I'm like I'm so exactly what happened I'm so glad he's in Minnesota right now because that will he want nuts right right so now we're kicking the can another 6 weeks and. We had to deal with it right so. Guys are making quick money on a single family that that's exactly really really simple it was more work in he said out yeah I got 15 in a backyard that a single family that I can knock out fine and I could do this and that's you know. A 20 on my desk right now there's no way I'm going to object in the time on the on a duplex to figure out what it's worth it's it's crazy oh my god L. yeah it's I'm I'm running across the same stuff you know I sit in it and they're waiting on appraisals and and you know I had one that here recently and it was it was a little bit of an oddball property same thing this actually tri plex and yeah it was every bit of. 6 to 8 weeks and then they came back with the price was over grant all right as you push in like in a helpful multi 53 units here but yeah and I have to do it because I can't get anybody to do I know we had a lot of money dealing I came back and said I'm not gonna present much more than what you bought for Mike you're kidding me right the combined into one nineties 3 units will put $80000 repairs in it and my rental B. 4500 Bucks here tell me is only worth one nineties like. Copyright Mr. Texas Real Estate@2021.

If you don't ask the best questions, you can't get the best answers. In this episode, Mike shows you how to make the most of your life with meaningful self-evaluation questions to ask during your Vision Trip. And, did you know that you can also get texts from Michael Anthony that will enCOURAGE you and help you UNLEASH your potential during your week? You'll LOVE them! Just text "Hi Mike" to (917) 724-0964 to get started right now. Its free, and priceless.

Enjoy the kick-off of a new series on how to OVERCOME procrastination! This episode covers one of the root reasons why you may be procrastinating -- and how to pull it up so that you can move forward. Get inspirational texts directly from Michael Anthony by texting "Hi Mike" to (917) 724-0964 and be part of the Courageous Nation. It's FREE! Use Coupon Code "GIVEME30" in your CourageMatters.com cart to get 30% off our Life Planner "Legacy Blueprint" while supplies last.

A caller called into Hugh Hewitt’s show and accidentally says ‘Hi Mike’ thinking he is calling Mike Gallagher. Also, what do you make of a vehicle milage tax? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen up RV Industry! Here is what Real RVers say are the most important RV features they want when they buy their next RV. We surveyed and heard from more than 300 of them and it's clear they know what they want. And between the lines in their responses, it's equally clear that the RV Industry hasn't been delivering it. You can listen to the podcast in the player below. And scroll down this page for shownotes,  plus links and resources about all the things we talk about. Results of our Survey: The Most Important RV Features wanted by Real RVers We really hope the RV Industry gets ahold of this report because it's pretty clear to us that there seems to be a pretty big disconnect between what this industry is making and what real RVers want. Earlier this week, we asked a simple question on our RV Lifestyle Social Media accounts: What features do you want in your next RV? The response, from our RV Lifestyle Group, our RV Lifestyle Facebook Page, our RV Lifestyle YouTube community and our @rvlifestylemike Instagram followers was immediate, detailed, and well-informed. We had nearly 300 responses to that question, and more are still coming in. But from those responses we seen some clear trends. Here are the 10 things RVers say are the most important RV features they want in their next RV: Four-season capabilities, with things like heated tanks Lithium batteries for coach power Solar panels Office space for remote workers Ducted air conditioners Comfortable beds Stand up dry showers More storage space Pet friendly amenities Quality workmanship They said lots more, so much more we are going to share many of the messages we received on our voicemail line (586-372-6990) and we are going to print some selected text responses we received, too. From them all, we picked 54 responses that reflect on just about every single aspect of an RV. Clearly, consumers today know what they want. And clearly, many think the industry doesn’t know what they want. That’s why we think it so important for these voices from Real RVers be heard. Let’s start with some of the audio messages we received: Roger says local service and creature comforts count the most "Hi Mike and Jennifer, this is Rodger Stambaugh in response to your request about what we look for most in a RV. Number one is local maintenance of the chassis in the RV build. We recently ordered a Wonder we may have to change to a Unity because the local Ford dealer need not maintain that chassis of the Wonder. Next is a large storage area and a full-time bed. So in the unit they would go with the island bed, which has almost the same storage as The Wonder of rear twin beds. Next would be a dry restroom with a separate shower, and ease of dried driving, so it'd be a van chassis." Rod & Carla want a four-season camper "This is Rod and Carla in Topeka Kansas. We recently bought our first travel trailer a couple of months ago. Haven't even been out yet because of COVID but getting ready, learning a lot, reading a lot and learned a lot from this site. One thing on the table we will look for when we upgrade would be a four-season camper. We didn't even know there was such a thing before now. I think we would have to have that for starters. Enjoy camping" Reese wants an AWD Class C "Hi, Mike and Jen. My name is Reese with my husband is Mike and we're calling from Chesterfield, Virginia. We watch your Ask Us Anything show every Sunday night and have watched probably all videos over and over. Our next RV is actually our first RV and we have spent months and months during the shutdown, or lockdown, studying all the different models. And what we want for our next RV is a Class C model with all-wheel-drive, inverters, heated tanks, leveling jack options… things like that. We've looked at the Odyssey and the Quantum and the Four Winds and the Winnebago's and something lately called a Gemini.

Listing the most important RV features you're looking for is one of the best things any RVer can do when shopping for an RV. Here's the list of our "must-haves!" But understand, this list is ours. Meaning, the RV features you choose for your needs will be different than ours. The most important RV features you identify will depend on what kind of RV you get, how you like to camp, what you do when you are out there, and how you use your RVs. This article comes in response to a specific request from a listener to our RV Podcast and we answered it on Episode 323. Click the Player below to hear the caller's question and an audio recording of our response. It's about 19:25 in on the player. For details, photos, and videos of the features, keep scrolling down. Question: What are Mike and Jen's Most Important RV Features? Here's a transcript of the question, left on our RV Podcast Voicemail number of 586-372-6990: "Hi Mike and Jennifer: Thank you for the valuable information you provide to the RV Community. My husband (six foot two)and I are nearing retirement and planned to purchase our RV in the near future. We've narrowed the search to a 20 to 25ft class B or B+ RV, which we believe allows us to fit in  the most national park smaller camp sites do boondocking. I plan to continue to work part-time remotely. We purchased your RV buying secrets and it has been very informative and answered a lot of questions. TIP: CLICK HERE for more information on our RV Buying Secrets eBook. It will save you money! We are a bit overwhelmed with the features. We should be looking for in our RV. I would like to ask the experience two RV experts -  you and Jennfer - to select the top ten features you can't live without in your class B B+ RV, If you could, please focus on features that you must make in the initial purchase that can't be added later. For example, dedicated bed, ducted air conditioning, safety features on the coach like blind spot and lane-keeping assist, on-demand water heater, six-cubic-foot 3-way fridge freezer, convection oven, deep sink, counter space, tank sizes,  propane versus induction, diesel vs gas ,storage capacity. Thank you again for all that. You do to provide quality and educational content to the RV Community wage. I look forward to hearing the top ten features you guys can't live without. Thank you!" Answer: Some RV Features are Preferences rather than Essentials The caller asked about a lot of things that deal more with preferences rather than must-haves.  For example, she asked about: Gas vs Diesel - We are happy with both. Right now we have a gasoline-powered RV. Our previous RVs are diesel. We can and have been happy with both. Gasoline is a bit easier to find. And, right now, it's cheaper. CLICK HERE for an article we wrote on Gas vs Diesel Induction vs Gas cooktop - We've had and have been happy with both.  Countertop - Most countertops in Class Bs are about the same. The bigger the better, but counter space is not a deal-breaker for us. Sink faucet - A lot of RVs have very cheap plastic faucets. Stay away from them is you can. But, again, this is not a deal-breaker for us. We can easily replace and upgrade if we want. Ducted air conditioning - We had this on our last RV and it was awesome. Our current RV does not have it and we do miss it. This is important, almost a deal-breaker. But not quite. Lane-keeping assist - These come standard on all new coaches Blindspot detection - This is standard on Class B RVs but is not available as a factory option on B+ r Class C RVs So let us share our most important RV features list - and some accompanying photos and videos -  in the hopes that it will give you an idea of what kinds of things should be on your list. Our 10 Most Important RV Features List Dedicated beds – And always-made real bed. In our case. We like the twin beds on our Leisure Travel Vans Wonder RTB.

Hi Mike here, please gently press the subscribe button it helps so much . This episode Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us about different kinds of people and situations we all find ourselves in every day . You really need to listen to this entire episode to determine if your heart is ready for the love of Christ . God knows how much affliction each of us needs to humble for the eternity . The Lord loves us all but not necessarily what we are doing . This episode is for you if you want to alleviate worry, stress and anxiety from your life starting Now . --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/companionchapelpodcast/message

Hi Mike here , In this episode our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us about things to expect in your day to day goings about and how to handle them . Christ covers faith in this episode and what God expects from you to receive blessings Right Now . Blessing including never worrying or having anxiety about anything in these COVID 19 times . This episode is the gold standard of self help just for you from our Lord Jesus Christ . Listen and follow along to the end or you will miss Devine advise from God's reasoned resolve written in the counsels of eternity ! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/companionchapelpodcast/message

Episode 402 | Dr. Michael Horton and Adriel Sanchez answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com Key questions answered in today's show: 1. How do you know if God loves you? I believe that God loves people, but I really struggle with a sense that God loves me and I’m not sure what to do. 2. Hi Mike and Adriel. I have been loving the show and a while back you talked about doing family devotions. Recently my wife and I started reading a chapter of the Bible and having a short prayer with our three kids. They are 9, 7, and 5. My question is, should I be explaining the passage and how can I make it relevant to them? 3. There is no doubt in my mind that God is real. God is showing me thing, I know in my heart that it's God, he is showing me stuff about people around me and I have been praying for assurance. I have never experienced something like this. It’s scary to know that so many people are lost. I see a lot of my brothers and sisters struggling to have faith. And here I’m fasting and trying to trust God, but you know it’s like you always have this sense of doubt. I know what God has shown me is true but how do you know for sure? I need prayer. 4. If you sensed, as a pastor, a lack of zeal for the lost in your church, how would you recommend promoting evangelism? 5. How do you know if you are a gentile or a Jew? Is it because you were born in Jerusalem or is it that your heritage is Jewish? Or how did you become a gentile?  Resources Christianity Explored DVD by Rico Tice Request our latest special offers here or call 1-833-THE-CORE (833-843-2673) to request them by phone.

This week, Brian discusses his aging hips and further deterioration, Mike Bloomberg entering the Democratic Debates, the Astros cheating saga continuance, his plan to harass the Astros in Oakland, the Yankees are already hurt, the unknown Red Sox future, and much much more!!! Follow on Twitter @brianbuck13 and @redticketblues Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, TuneIn, Youtube, Podbean Song- Love- Everybody's Gotta Live  

Alan has information on his sites he would like to share. Here is the email he sent to us where he prepared links for our listeners. Hi Mike and Tracie Here are the links that I did for your listeners http://vanfogey.co.uk/mt1.html http://vanfogey.co.uk/mt2.html and of course they are more than welcome at the website http://vanfogey.co.uk more of the web pages on the media centre are working now. I will happily reply to any of your listeners questions for us best regards, Alan Please also go to the petition link and sign! .Here are the links if you want to help the Taits bring attention to what is occuring at their house and asking for more active thourough investigations by the police. https://www.change.org/p/the-commissioner-of-the-metropolitan-police-crime-underneath-my-basement-floor

WTR understands that successful entrepreneurs often have great stories to tell. Not to mention, there’s great wisdom and knowledge to be gained by listening to their stories. The model to success has already been achieved by successful entrepreneurs like Mike Watts. And now he’s made it his mission to give back to people in the hopes he can make a difference in their lives by helping them to get out of the rat race and into being a successful entrepreneur as well. Mike Watts is an experienced entrepreneur who has 6 startup companies under his belt, including founding three consecutive multi-million dollar companies in the last 10 years. Mike has successful exits from three companies, including one for over $6 million. He’s even struck a deal with Daymond John from Shark Tank. Mike currently serves as CEO of – The Mike Watts Show – (http://www.themikewattsshow.com/) focused on sharing the detailed stories of failures and successes throughout his start-up journeys, culminating in actionable and practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Mike Watts mike@lovehandle.com The Mike Watts Show (https://themikewattsshow.com/) LoveHandle (https://www.lovehandle.com/) LoveHandle Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/lovehandletv/) Mike’s Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/mike.watts2) Mike’s Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/mikewatts/) Mike’s Twitter (https://twitter.com/mike100w) (#) Transcript [0:00] Wealth Tactic Rebels, ingenious tactics to accumulate wealth, for people who see things different. [0:19] Welcome to another the discussion with wealth tactic Rebels the wealth podcast for people who see things differently. I'm your host Kevin Dumont and I've been thinking differently over 10 years and today I am joined by Mike Watts. [0:34] Hi Mike how are you today? I'm doing fantastic Kevin how are you? I'm doing awesome. I'm glad to have you here today thanks so much for joining us. [0:42] Yeah glad glad to be here and I hope I can offer some value to your listener. Well I definitely think you can Mike. Mike, for our listeners here, of our interview today, he's a very successful entrepreneur has done over six different Ventures and seems to be going up with each one. [1:00] Yeah I'd like to give you the background of his whole story but I really think that the person is going to give you the most value in the best detail on that background is Mike himself so Mike why don't you listen in on, where you started how you got to where you are today yeah great Kevin well yeah I've always been the type of guy that that has some sort of side hustle going early days in middle school I was the guy with the candy in the backpack and no working punch rooms and and the hallway between classes try to put a little extra jingle in my pocket I need some people like you right, you know I started cutting grass and started washing cars anything I can do to make money all the way through High School, At 15 I went and got my first, real job getting a paycheck as I worked in a baseball card shop in that house because I love baseball cards super in the baseball cards the stock market in the next week it would go up in value or go down and you can buy them in a whole sale and trade it was a dream job for me and plus it was so then I can trade baseball cards and [2:17] Check out the passers-by if you know what I mean. I do know what you mean. I was always being high school in, we worked out great from there you know how to load a variety of different jobs and the traditional path, you know I was told the story right you do good in school so that you can go to college and that you going to do go to college and get a good job, your job so you can make me have a good paycheck and eventually retire when you're 65 and then you can do what you want exactly. 8 years into my professional career as. [3:00]...

This week is a Patron special--every question was submitted by the Ask Science Mike Patreon community. If you'd like to join us, click here. Here's the questions from this week's show, plus additional resources. You've expressed belief in a God that is the ground of all being, Einstein's God, a reductionist left-hemisphere God. You've also expressed belief in a God of mysticism and subjective experience, a God of feeling and intuition, a holistic right-hemisphere God. Do you ever feel the need to bridge the gap between these two Gods? Can you say they are the same, or do we need a God for each cerebral hemisphere? Finding God in the Waves Hey Mike, I have a question for you. I'd love to know if there is a physiological link between grief and an increased sex drive? I can see that sex can be a temporary escape from pain, or a release of tension. And that the loneliness of grief could prompt a desire to connect physically with someone else. But is there anything science can shed light on, to further explain an increased sex drive at times of significant pain and loss, and whether its a coping mechanism or a way of the body seeking to heal? It seems incongruous in part. Asking for a friend...! Huge love to you. Come back to London soon X 5 Things They Don't Tell You About Grief Can you talk about quantum teleportation? What has been demonstrated and what is theoretical sci-fi? Quantum teleportation is real, but it's not what you think How do you interact with friends or family members who are conservative fundamentalists and lovingly concerned that you are "sinning" by reading the Bible differently than they do? It's frustrating when they continue to want to discuss hot-button topics like homosexuality—never as a method of understanding my perspective, but instead with the purpose of changing my mind and helping me understand the "truth.” Hi Mike! I asked this one a couple Thanksgivings ago when you answered all the patreon questions, but it was never on the show—perhaps it got lost in the patreon comment vortex. I'm curious how you, as a married enneagram 9, maintain your own identity? I'm 43, and have never been able to have a romantic relationship in which I didn't lose myself (I'm an introverted 9w1 sexual variant) (neutral good, haha), so I've shied away from them to maintain a sense of self. It seems to me like I might like to have a long-term partnership or marriage someday, so I'm curious what steps you take to keep your identity separate from Jenny & the girls. I've been in talk therapy, done programs, attended seminars, etc—but I tend to keep all interpersonal relationships at arm's length because I feel chaotic and like I can't find myself in the noisy din of other people's presence. Any advice from your experience would be appreciated. Peace, love, and entropy! Why don't organisms with the shortest reproductive cycles rule the world? It seems to me that simple organisms with rapid reproduction should evolve more quickly than more complex organisms with longer lifespans. If that's the case, shouldn't those species have a wider range of adaptations to "select" from for suitability to their environments, giving them a serious evolutionary advantage over those of us that don't breed like rabbits? In other words, why isn't mosquitoes' ability to dodge evolving faster than my ability to swat them? (Sorry if this is Natural Selection 101 - my "Christian" education sadly excluded that course from its science curriculum). r/K selection theory

Building Client Loyalty = Repeat Business I have to preface today’s topic of building client loyalty by saying everything I’m going to talk about here won’t help you if you are not a good designer. You don’t have to be an amazing designer, simply being a good one will do. As long as you know what you are doing, then you will benefit from today’s topic. Face it; if you are not a good designer, there’s not much you can do to get repeat business from clients. Other than practice and get better that is. But I’m guessing by the fact that you are here right now, that you are serious about your design business and therefore must know what you are doing when it comes to design. So let’s move on. The idea here is to build relationships with your clients. Building relationships is the main ingredient in building client loyalty. I’m not talking about designer/client relationships, but relationships on a more personal level. No, I’m not suggesting you start dating your clients to keep them coming back. Although that might work. I don’t personally have any experience on that front, but hey, if it worked for you drop me a line and let me know. What I’m suggesting, is to get to know your client on a more personal level beyond the design projects you work on together. I’ve been following this principle since I got into the industry 30 years ago. Even more so since I started my own design business in 2005, and I must say, my track record is pretty darn good. The majority of my clients become repeat clients, and the majority of those repeat clients, keep coming back over and over again with more design jobs for me. I have a special mailbox in my mail app where I keep “praise” messages that clients have sent me over the years. Let me share a few lines from some of them. “There's nobody else I'd rather work with.”  “I can't imagine working with anyone else.” “I feel like you're a part of our company.” “You get me, I don’t know how, but you get me.” So how did I end up building client loyalty like this? Is it because I’m a world-class designer? Because I'm not. I consider myself very good at what I do, but I'm nowhere near world-class status. The reason I receive this sort of praise from clients is because of the relationships I’ve built with them over the years. Think about it. Relationships are built on two principles. Trust and how much you like someone. If you don’t trust someone, chances are you won’t have a relationship with them. Same if you don’t like someone, chances are you won’t have a relationship with them. Now the trust part is easy. Create good design work and deliver that work on time and chances are your clients will trust you. The other half of the equation is getting them to like you. Think about this: Clients would prefer to work with a good designer they like, than work with an amazing designer they don’t like. My strategy for building client loyalty Here’s my strategy for building relationships with my clients and getting them to like me. Are you ready for it? I listen, AND I take notes. That's all there is to it. No, seriously, that’s the magic of it. Listening and taking notes. The goal is to get clients to like you. The more you know about your clients, AND the more your clients realise that you know about them, the better the likelihood of those clients liking you. Let me elaborate, whenever a client comes to me, for whatever project. Not only do I want to know about their organisation and how the particular design project fits in, but I want to know about the client themself, their personal life, their family, etc.. And I build up this knowledge over time through conversations. How? Through idle conversations and chit chat and by asking the right questions when the opportunity arises. Don't be too forward by directly asking personal questions. Instead, ask indirect questions that will allow you to gain knowledge about your clients. Let me give you an example. Let's say a client I'm working with calls me on the phone. Me: Hello? Client: Hi, it's Mike, I need to talk to you about the project." Now's the perfect time for me to gain some personal information about Mike, my client. Instead of getting right into it, I might try stalling for some chit chat. One method I like to use is telling the client I need to save what I'm currently working on before talking to them. In doing so, I might respond with something like this. Me: "Hi Mike, just give me a couple of seconds to save this file I'm working on." During the pause, I'll add"Do you have any plans for the weekend?" While Mike is waiting for me to save my file so we can begin our conversation about his project he'll probably answer my question. Mike: "My wife and I are going to our daughter's piano recital this weekend." Knowledge bomb! I now know that Mike is married and has a daughter who plays the piano. This opens me up to asking followup questions such as asking how old his daughter is, how long has she been playing the piano, does she get her musical talent from him or his wife?. This is information I can use in the future to help build my relationship with Mike. The next time I talk to him, I can ask how his daughter's piano recital went. That's the sort of question that makes the client think "wow, this person cares enough to inquire about my personal life. I like that about them." Building a client information database The first part of my strategy for building client loyalty is to gather as much personal information about them as I can (without getting creepy and stalking them). The second part of my strategy is to organise that information so I can easily access it in the future. To do this, I use my Contacts App since it syncs between my computer and mobile devices, so I always have it at hand. Most Contacts Apps allow you to enter information such as the name of their spouse, children, birthdays and more. Any information that doesn't have a dedicated field goes into the Notes filed. I also have a dedicated calendar on my Calendar App specifically for client information — things like birthdays, anniversaries and all other occasions I might want to remember. I do the same with their business information by keeping track of trade shows, launch dates, special events their business is holding. I try to gather as much information about my clients as I can. What do you do with this information? I use the information I've gathered through various conversations to build relationships with my clients. If I know their birthday is soon, I might bring it up in conversation "Isn't your birthday coming up?". If they told me they were going to Paris for vacation, I might ask them about their trip afterwards. If I know their son plays baseball I might inquire about the upcoming baseball season. Anything that helps connect on a personal level builds the relationship and forms a bond with the client. This bond will increase the likelihood of the client liking you, and as I stated earlier, loyalty is based on trust and how much someone likes you. Get to know your clients. I go into much more detail on the podcast so please listen to this episode for more examples if you want to know more about building client loyalty. Make sure you take the time to get to know your clients. Learn about their business and the work they do, but also learn about them, their personal lives, their family, etc. The more you know about your clients, the closer of a connection you can have with them. And when that connection becomes solid, the client won't imagine working with anyone else but you. Building client loyalty makes clients for life. Do you learn everything you can about your clients? Let me know by leaving a comment for this episode. Questions of the Week Submit your question to be featured in a future episode of the podcast by visiting the feedback page. This week’s question comes from Scott I love the idea that a design should not be quoted based on time but how do you come up with a price ? And what can you answer when a client asks you for justification for a price? To find out what I told Scott you’ll have to listen to the podcast. Resource of the week abc.useallfive.com abc.useallfive.com is an online tool that shows you how ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant your colours are in relation to each other. By adding your colours on the right, you can generate a chart to see how they can be used together for accessibility, and find similar colours that work better. Listen to the podcast on the go. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Listen on Android Listen on Stitcher Listen on iHeartRadio Contact me I would love to hear from you. You can send me questions and feedback using my feedback form. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram I want to help you. Running a graphic design or web design business all by yourself isn't easy. If there are any struggles you face running your design business, please reach out to me. I'll do my best to help you by addressing your issues in a future blog post or podcast episode here at Resourceful Designer. You can reach me at feedback@resourcefuldesigner.com

Summary: Mike specializes in working with aggressive dogs — we had him on the podcast to share how he defines the term and what tools and analogies he finds useful in working with these dogs and their owners!  Next Episode:  To be released 11/02/2018, our follow up on bringing home an adult dog series with Dr. Jessica Hekman, PhD, DVM TRANSCRIPTION: Melissa Breau: This is Melissa Breau and you're listening to the Fenzi Dog Sports Podcast brought to you by the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, an online school dedicated to providing high-quality instruction for competitive dog sports using only the most current and progressive training methods. Today we’ll be talking to Mike Shikashio. Mike is the past president of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), and provides private consultations working exclusively with dog aggression cases through his business Complete Canines LLC. Michael is fully certified through the IAABC and is a full member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT). He also offers mentoring and training to other professionals. Mike is sought after for his expert opinion by numerous media outlets, including the New York Times, New York Post, Baltimore Sun, WebMD, Women’s Health Magazine, Real Simple Magazine, The Chronicle of the Dog, and Steve Dale’s Pet World. He is a featured speaker on the topic of canine aggression at conferences and seminars around the world, and he currently teaches “Aggression Cases: A to Z” through The Dog Trainers Connection and the “Aggression in Dogs Mentorship” through the IAABC. Hi Mike! Welcome to the podcast. Mike Shikashio: Hi Melissa. Thanks for having me. I’m excited to be here. Melissa Breau: I’m excited to chat. To get us started, can you give us a little background about your dogs and what you work on with them? Mike Shikashio: I’m kind of a mixed blended family of dogs right now. My girlfriend just moved up from Chile, and she brought her black Lab/mixed-mutt dog up. But she makes me look good, this dog, because she was already trained because my girlfriend is also a trainer. So I haven’t been doing a whole lot, but I do enjoy some off-leash hikes with her, and she’s got a great recall, and so I’ve got it easy right now with dogs. Melissa Breau: Hey, that’s the best. New dog comes in fully trained? You can’t beat that. Mike Shikashio: Yeah, bonus! Melissa Breau: How did you originally get into dog training and end up in this crazy world? Mike Shikashio: I actually started out in the rescue world. I did a lot of fostering dogs when I was much younger, and as you get good as a foster parent, the rescues will start sending you more and more difficult dogs, so that’s how I caught the training bug and the behavior bug, so to speak. I wanted to learn more about how to work with these foster dogs. At the same time, I always wanted to open my own dog business and dog-related business, so my original aspiration was to have a dog daycare/dog boarding kind of place. But then I got more into this training and behavior side of things, and that led me down the road of doing more research on my own and learning, and going to my first conferences and seminars, and doing things like that, and that’s how it led me to where I am today, really getting focused on training behavior. So those foster dogs, I can give them the credit for making me want to learn more. Melissa Breau: Starting without necessarily a specific background in dogs or what have you, were you always a positive trainer? Is that where you got started, or what led you down that path? Mike Shikashio: I started out as more of a “traditional balanced trainer.” One of my first mentors had a working military dog background, so that’s what I started with, and some of the more traditional tools — pinch collars, e-collars, and things like that. Coincidentally, I was at the APDT conference this week and finally got to meet Jean Donaldson in person, believe it or not. I hadn’t met her in person ever, and she mentioned to me she’s not big into traveling, and so I think that’s one of the reasons I hadn’t met her at any of the previous conferences. But I got a chance to finally thank her, because one of the first books I read about the positive training world was The Culture Clash, and that really had an effect on my training methodology and getting into that side of the training world. So I finally got to say thank you to her. So I didn’t start off as a positive trainer. I started off more on the balanced training side of things to where I moved on to where I am today with my training methodology. Melissa Breau: Would you mind talking a little bit about what your methodology is today? How do you describe it or what have you? Mike Shikashio: My work is exclusively with aggression in dogs, so I only take aggression cases. Most of the work I do, the methodology I use, is through behavior change strategies using desensitization and counter-conditioning, and also differential reinforcement or positive-reinforcement-based strategies to teach the dogs that … the old saying we hear, “What do you want to do instead?” So a lot of it is focused on that, and of course antecedent arrangements. A lot of it isn’t just training and behavior modification. A lot of times I’m working in conjunction with vets in terms of addressing underlying health issues. So most of it is a combination of management and safety, environmental changes, and then working in conjunction with ancillary folks like the veterinary field, and then of course using those differential reinforcement and counter-conditioning strategies in my work with the aggressive dogs. Melissa Breau: Why aggression? You mentioned you do that exclusively now. What led you down that path and what keeps you there? Mike Shikashio: That’s a question I get a lot. First and foremost, if people listen to this and they want to get into aggression, or they’re taking a lot of aggression, I will say that you do have to love working with aggressive cases, or aggression cases, because there’s weeks that can go by where I can work a bunch of cases and not even pet a dog. So you have to be prepared for that. You have to be prepared to have lots of dogs want to bite your face off the first few times you meet them, and see that day after day after day. So that’s part of it is being able to have that, being able to cope with that and be able to come home and pet your own dog and meet a nice puppy every once in a while. But I think one of the most significant factors that got me into this is really helping the people and helping the dogs reestablish that human-animal bond. I think that’s fractured a lot in aggression cases. A lot of clients are on their last leg or really struggling emotionally, and I found that repairing that and focusing on helping that relationship and affording the best outcome for the dog is what really got me into it. I saw I was able to make some significant changes in the future for these dogs by focusing on it. I also think that specializing — we see a lot of this now, and Denise Fenzi’s a good example of that — specializing in certain areas of the dog-training world. Now we have the CSATs that focus on separation anxiety, we have people focusing on certain aspects of dog training, the dog sports world. If people asked me how to teach a dog how to go through weave poles, I would say, “I have no idea,” and I would refer that on to somebody else. I think specializing allows you to get much better at the thing that you’re specializing in much faster than if you were taking a variety of different cases. I also found that was one of the reasons I wanted to get just solely into aggression — because I wanted to be really good at it. So I said, “Let me try just taking aggression cases exclusively,” and it’s worked out really well. I think because you get to see the same things over and over, and so you’re able to troubleshoot much faster. You’re able to see the same things happening and get a general idea of what is happening in a case even before you step into it you’ll start to see the same things over and over. I think that has a lot also, what to do, I want to focus on one area. Rather than being good at a lot of different things, I want to be great at one thing, so that’s what led me down the road of working with just aggression. Melissa Breau: I think that’s really important for professionals to realize that sometimes niching down is a great way to grow a business. It’s not limiting the business. It’s actually a way to become more successful. So I think that’s a great point. Mike Shikashio: Absolutely, absolutely. I just listened to one of your recent podcasts and it was focused on business, and I think that’s such an important point. A lot of folks are worried about, “I do this one thing exclusively, and now all those other clients I could take doing other behavior problems are off the table,” but believe it or not, once people know you specialize in something, the business really takes off because you become that go-to person for that one area. Melissa Breau: Absolutely. Just to make sure everybody’s on the same page in terms of terminology and what we’re talking about here, when you say you only take aggression cases, what’s the range of severity there? What does each end of that spectrum look like? Dig into that a little bit for me. Mike Shikashio: That’s a great question, Melissa. I think piggybacking off the last question, I define aggression as basically whatever the client thinks is happening when they call me. I advertise for aggression in dogs, or people having problems with aggression, that keyword right there, because that’s usually what people are searching for online, and that can fall into a wide range. Aggression itself, that’s a construct or a label, so it can have different definitions. Even when you’re talking to experts, or behavior experts, depending on who you’re talking to, that definition is going to differ, so I just classify it or define it as whatever the clients are calling me for in the first place. That can be anything from a dog barking and lunging on leash at people and dogs, but no bite history, and it’s perfectly social when they are close to people or other dogs, and so that might be labeled “reactive,” or may not be labeled aggression, but the client contacted me because they think it’s aggressive, so they will call me for that. The other end we might have true aggression, like aggressive behavior with biting, severe bite injuries, and things like that. So you can get any one of those extremes. You might even get, I get this sometimes, where it’s a client that’s got a puppy that’s new to the home and they’re just mouthing, and the client’s not savvy with dogs, or it might be their first dog, and I’ll get an e-mail: “Help, my dog is being so aggressive and is mauling me.” You get there and it’s just a typical case of a very mouthy puppy and those sharp puppy teeth. In my area you get a lot of retirees, so I’ll get an elderly couple on blood thinners with a young Golden mouthy puppy, and it’s a perfect storm of it looks like a horror show when you get there because the poor folks have all these Band-Aids and marks all over their arms. It’s kind of a mismatch at that point of young puppy with elderly folks, but that’s not of course what we would classify as aggression. Melissa Breau: Sometimes it’s what you show up for, which leads really well into my next question, which is, how do you prepare for that first session? Sometimes owners definitely don’t describe things the way that we would. What kind of information is “need to know,” and how do you figure out what’s really going on? Sometimes, like you said with that puppy situation, they’re going to think the puppy is crazy-aggressive, and you show up and it’s like, “Oh, this is actually pretty normal.” How do you approach that? What do you do to prepare for a new client? Mike Shikashio: In terms of communicating with clients in aggression cases, one of the most important things to focus on in your initial contact with that client is getting information about any kind of bite incidents or the aggressive incidents which are why they’re contacting you about. You want to know about the level of biting that’s occurring, the severity of the biting, and also the context in which it’s happening, so that way you can set things up safely for your arrival. That’s what I focus on during my initial contact. I don’t do a long intake form. I don’t spend a whole lot of time on the phone or e-mailing clients. What I shoot straight for is that context of when the actual aggression incidents happen, so I can get information about how I’m going to set it up safely for my arrival, because even when you can go into very thorough, detailed information with a client on the phone, you still might not get a full picture. So I always err on the side of caution and assume that a bite might happen, if the dog has a bite history, so I’m always setting things up very safely. A good question to ask is, “What do you do with the dog now when people come over?” A lot of the clients will have already set up a system. Most of the time it’s, “Oh, I just put him away,” and that works really well also when I arrive, because then I can get detailed information during the first 15 to 30 minutes or so, where I do the information-gathering step of my consultation. That’s usually, again, going to give you the most information about how to safely set up the dog, or get the dog out. That way, I can then get thorough information in front of the client and see the environment, and then determine the best way to meet the dog after that. I always stress that you always want to be very, very safe during your initial greetings with dogs, and your initial consult, until we have more information. Melissa Breau: I guess the hard question: Do you think that all dogs can be rehabilitated? Mike Shikashio: That term “rehabilitation” is sort of arguable in a sense, because it depends if you look at it from a behavioral standpoint when people talk about rehab, as sort of it leads you toward the dog having a certain illness, because that’s sort of an ugly term in the human world, and if you look at physical rehabilitation, it implies fixing an issue. We know with behavior, once it’s in the animal’s behavior repertoire, it’s technically always there. So I’m very careful about when clients use that term “rehab.” I want to know their definition of it, because if they’re implying that we’re going to fix the problem, or the dog’s never going to do the behavior again, that’s going to skew potentially their goals. So I always explain to clients that the behavior — our goal is to make it less likely to happen. We reduce the likelihood of it to happen and to management and to behavior modification. So to say all dogs are rehab-able, again that’s an arguable term. I think all dogs we can change behavior. In all animals we can change behavior. So that’s what I focus on — making sure the clients understand how behavior works and how we can reduce the frequency of behaviors, and then they can start to understand. And also, of course, looking at the variables that affect behavior, the antecedent arrangements and the antecedents and things that can affect behavior. Once the client starts understanding and grasping those concepts — and using the layman’s terms, not using the behavioral terms with clients — but I think once they start to understand those concepts, then they realize that this is something that is not going to be like a light switch which we turn it on or off. So that’s how I approach it generally with clients. Melissa Breau: You mentioned earlier some of the tools that you use. Can you talk a little more about those? What things do you use most often? Feel free to break it down into layman terms for us. I know we have a wide range of backgrounds in the audience. Mike Shikashio: With aggressive behavior, or aggression, you’re looking at two components. The simple way that I explain to clients is that you have factors that make the behavior more likely to happen, but that doesn’t mean the behavior is going to happen unless you have the antecedent. I use this analogy a lot with clients, where if you have an empty fuel drum or fuel can, and what we can do is add more fuel to it, we can add layers of fuel, which the more fuel you have, the more likely you are to get an explosion, or that progressive behavior we don’t want. And those are what we refer to as distant antecedents in the animal world. So when you have those factors, if you add in more and more layers, you’re going to have at one point a fuel can that’s ready to explode. But again, you need a spark or a match to actually make that explosion happen. Those sparks or those matches are the antecedents, or what sets that behavior in motion, so you need both often to see the aggressive behavior. So I start to teach clients about how to recognize factors that can influence behavior. For instance, a dog that is growling near the food bowl, or biting people when they come near the food bowl, factors that can increase the likelihood of that are a dog that is really hungry, or a dog that is stressed, or a dog that might be on medication, for instance, or underlying medical issues that make it more likely to do that behavior, because those are what we call distant antecedents, or again, factors that are adding layers of fuel. So if you have a dog that just ate a full, huge meal and then you put a food bowl down, you’re less likely to see that behavior if somebody approaches. Now, the person approaching, that’s the match, that’s the antecedent or what can spark that explosion, so one day it might be somebody approaching from 10 feet away and the dog explodes, or the next day it might be the person can literally reach near the food bowl because the dog doesn’t have all those fuels fueling it. Once the client starts to understand that, rather than them assigning personality traits to the dog, or underlying reasons for the behavior, you know, “My dog is dominant,” or “My dog is like, 90 percent of the time he’s good, 10 percent of the time he’s bad, I just don’t know when,” once the client starts to understand how there’s got to be fuel there and then there’s those matches, those matches are not always present, there’s going to be times when those antecedents or those matches come into play, and that’s when you’re going to likely to see the behavior. Once we see that, then we can start modifying those behaviors. So then, again with the food bowl we present the match, or the person approaching from maybe 11 feet away, and we can change the dog’s association with that match approaching. That’s the desensitization and counter-conditioning that I mentioned before. We’re changing the association: somebody approaching the food bowl means something good is about to happen. A lot of times I’m often using food in my work with dogs, so it may be as simple as somebody approaching means they’re about to throw a treat, a higher-value treat than what you have in the food bowl, from 11 feet away. We’re doing it at a safe distance where we’re not causing the explosion, and we’re changing the dog’s association. Then you may also incorporate differential reinforcement of an alternative behavior. That’s just a fancy term for “What do you want the dog to do instead?” when that match approaches, and so lifting the head up out of the food bowl. We can start to catch that, and if we’re doing marker training with our dog, we can say “Good,” or “Yes,” or even click for lifting the head up out of the food bowl, which is an alternative behavior to growling or barking or lunging or biting. So we can start to catch that. So you’re doing two different things at the same time: you’re doing operant conditioning, which is teaching the dog what to do instead, and you’re doing the classical counter-conditioning — you’re changing the association for the dog with the very simple procedure of, “Anytime I approach, if you lift your head up out of the food bowl, something good is about to happen, and when you lift your head up out of the food bowl, I will reinforce that.” That can be incorporated with a number of aggressive behaviors. Think about your typical dog that barks and lunges at other dogs on leash. Set the dog up, set the stage correctly, keep enough distance from the other dog so there’s no explosion. You’re presenting the match of the other dog, so instead of starting from 5 feet away, you might start from 50 feet away, where the dog is not close enough to cause that explosion, and you wait for your dog, the one that has that issue with barking and lunging, to just notice the other dog, and then you would reinforce that. That’s a behavior you like, just notice the other dog, you’re going to mark and reinforce that, and what happens at the same time is the associated learning, so that way the dog knows, “Oh, when I see another dog, the person handling me is going to mark and then feed me.” So again, two things happening at the same time: the dog learns what to do instead, and the association starts to change. As the dog gets better at it, as you’re reducing fuels because you’re reducing the stress of that situation. You might also be addressing the fear or the anxiety, the arousal, all of those other fuels that might come along in that package. You’re reducing the fuel, but you’re also changing the dog’s behavior around that match so you can get that match closer and closer and closer to that fuel without any kind of explosion. That’s exactly how I explain to clients without using the technical terms. I explain that fuel and match analogy, and clients really start to get it, because they’re assigning things like “territorial dog,” or “red zone dog,” or “alpha dog,” which really isn’t helpful, again, because we know those are constructs or labels. So I focus on what we want the dog to do instead and in those contexts. That’s pretty much the tools I use most of the time, most times food, and sometimes it’s play, and sometimes it’s toys, depending on the dog and the context. Melissa Breau: That’s awesome, and I think that analogy works really, really well. It explains all the right pieces and it’s still a concept that people definitely quickly grasp. That’s neat. I hadn’t heard that one before, so I like that. Mike Shikashio: Thanks. Melissa Breau: We were introduced because you’ve got two webinars coming up at FDSA on some of this stuff. For those listening, they’ll be back-to-back, they’re on the same day, and Mike will be talking about intra-household dog-to-dog aggression. So Mike, I was hoping we could talk a little bit about those. First, can you explain the terminology there for anybody who might not know what intra-household dog-to-dog aggression means? And then can you share a little bit about what you’ll be focusing on? Mike Shikashio: Sure, sure. Intra-household dog-to-dog aggression, a.k.a., two or more dogs fighting in the same home when they live together, is the topic that I’ll be focusing on. We’ll be talking about things like common factors in dogfights or why dogs fight in the home. We’ll talk about factors that can influence dogs fighting and having those conflicts. We’ll talk about the overall prognosis in these cases and what the typical outcome can be, depending on a certain number of variables, because each case is going to differ and some cases are going to be more difficult than others, depending on those variables. And we’ll talk about how to start changing the behavior and how to get dogs to live harmoniously again, using a variety of techniques and management tools. And we’ll again focus on the aspects of differential reinforcement and counter-conditioning with most cases as well, because it works on intra-household cases. That’s it in a nutshell. We’ll briefly touch on how to break up a dogfight safely, because I think all clients that have dogs fighting in the home should be able to do that safely as well. Quite a bit to cover and squish down into those two webinars, but I hope to be able to cover it all and we’ll have some fun. Melissa Breau: The first one’s, if I remember correctly, talking through some of this stuff, and the second one is more case studies. Is that right? Am I recalling that correctly? Mike Shikashio: Yes. I’ll be showing a couple of cases that show two dogs that had a history of conflict in the home and how we worked on those cases to resolve it with the clients. And the first webinar will be detailing the reasons why dogs fight, safety and management strategies. The second one feeds off of the first, so it’s good, if you can, to attend both of them so it all makes sense in the second one when we start working with the dogs in those videos. Melissa Breau: Absolutely awesome. I’m trying to pull up the exact date and time, because I should have pulled this up in advance and of course I didn’t. So, for anybody listening, they will be on November 1, that’s an easy date to remember, and the time for the first one is at 3 p.m. Pacific time, the second one is at 6 p.m. Pacific time, and they are currently on the FDSA website if anybody wants to go sign up. Mike Shikashio: That makes them 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Eastern time, if I’m correct. Melissa Breau: You’re absolutely correct. I’m Eastern, and I have to do that time conversion way more times in the day than I care to count. So I have a couple of questions I usually ask at the end of every episode when I have a first-time guest. I’d love to work through those. The first one is, what’s the dog-related accomplishment that you’re proudest of? Mike Shikashio: That’s a good question. I would have to say after this weekend, speaking at APDT and then talking to Jean Donaldson, I would say that I’m just really, really humbled and very happy to be able to share the information that I have now with others. I think that’s how I, of course, learned from many folks that were generous enough to share information about how they work with behavior, and I’m just really happy that I’m able to do that now. If you had asked me seven or eight years ago, when I was attending these conferences, if I would ever imagine myself speaking to an audience, I would say, “No way. I’m just doing my thing, learning training and behavior.” There is no way I would have thought I would be speaking to a crowd at APDT and other conferences and traveling the world giving these workshops. So that’s the thing I feel really good about is being able to share that information. And I think a big part of it is validating for what other trainers are doing. I hear that a lot. Trainers will come up to me and say, “Thank you so much for validating what I’m doing now,” because what I’m doing now isn’t a whole lot different than what a lot of other trainers are doing. It’s just a lonely world sometimes, this dog training world, because some people don’t have a local network, or they don’t really know anybody else taking aggression cases, so they’re not sure if what they’re doing is the latest-greatest or whatever technique, or if they’re doing things correctly. And what I’m doing a lot of times is validating. I’m not showing them much different techniques or strategies. They’re just seeing that, “Oh, OK, Mike’s doing a lot of what I do.” So that’s very validating for them. I feel like that’s something I love about traveling and meeting other trainers and just making the world a little bit smaller for them. Melissa Breau: When you think about it, aggression, it’s one thing if you’re trying to teach a dog to sit with a cookie. It’s a whole other story when you’re talking about, “OK, this dog has serious behavior problems, and do I know what I’m doing, and can I really fix this.” I can see how that would be really validating to say, “Look, here’s somebody who’s doing it, and doing it successfully on a consistent basis.” So that’s awesome. Next question, I’m afraid it’s not much easier: What’s the best piece of training advice that you’ve ever heard? Mike Shikashio: I don’t know if it’s a piece of training advice, but I think, again, because I’m working in training and behavior, they’re kind of two of the same, when I use the term “behavior world,” I’m talking about just general behavior with all animals, and one of the things I started to really hone down on is just this empowerment thing. One of Susan Friedman’s quotes is, “The central component of behavioral health is the power to operate on the environment to behave for an effect.” She’s one that really opened the world of empowerment and allowing animals to act on their own environment, rather than always micromanaging all their behaviors. Giving them the power of choice can have a significant impact, especially in aggression cases. An example I use sometimes is that we focus on getting the dog to watch me, if they’re reactive to other dogs, or we tell them to go to a mat, or we add these behaviors that we ask for, which, don’t get me wrong, they work really well as a great alternative for incompatible behaviors. If the dog’s looking at me, they’re not going to be barking and lunging at other dogs. Or if they go to their mats, they’re not going to be  charging the door. The issue sometimes doing that is it’s not fully allowing the animal to act on their own environment. Follow me for a second here. You ask a dog to go to their mat in the home, and say they have a fear of strangers coming through the door. If I put that mat in a place that’s going to not allow them enough distance, so we’re now introducing strangers past their critical distance, getting into their critical distance, in other words this bubble around them, that we are artificially removing their flight option. So it looks great on paper. “Go to your mat” — that’s better than biting the person that comes through the door. However, if we artificially remove that flight option, what we’re basically asking the dog is to not move away if you’re scared of that person, which doesn’t fully empower them to act on their environment. Now, of course we don’t want them charging and biting the person, because that’s acting on their environment, but we want to preserve that option, that choice of being able to move away. Similarly with dogs that are barking and lunging at other people or dogs on the streets or on a leash, we can say, “Watch me, watch me,” and again, it works really well because the dog’s focused on the handler. Again, however, that doesn’t allow the dog to assess the provocative stimulus or the threat. And what you can run the risk of is that you’re not really changing the association if the dog is watching the handler. So it’s a great alternative behavior, however it puts us at risk of not allowing the dog to act on their own environment and move away if they want to, or just notice the threat and assess that threat and then move away. So a lot of what I focus on now is allowing the dog to act on their own environment. However, I reinforce desirable behaviors without cuing them, so I wind up capturing behaviors I like. Sometimes I will cue, but most of the time I’m just allowing the dog to say, “Hey, there’s a person over there.” I’ll reinforce the heck out of those behaviors, so that way the dog starts to learn that, “OK, I can do this instead, and that will pay off for me,” and then we can increase distance. So there’s a lot of benefits to allowing the dog have that choice and control over their environment. Melissa Breau: That’s a great philosophy for thinking about really what it’s like to be in the dog’s shoes for all of that. Mike Shikashio: Absolutely. Melissa Breau: Last question: Who is somebody in the dog world that you look up to? Mike Shikashio: Oh boy. I have a long list of people I look up to. I would say … I think I have to give that one to Susan Friedman again because … and again, she’s not necessarily in the dog world, she’s in the animal behavior world. Melissa Breau: That works. Mike Shikashio: I’m sure a lot of listeners could agree if they listen to Susan. You could listen to her for hours. She could talk about watching paint dry and you’d be sitting there with your mouth open, like, “Wow.” And she’s got that soothing voice, too. She’s got such a soothing voice. You could put a Susan Friedman podcast on and go to sleep to it every night because she’s got a soothing voice as well. But she’s just amazing the way she understands animal behavior, so I would definitely put her as one of the top on my list for people I look up to in the animal behavior world. Melissa Breau: Awesome. Thank you so much for coming on the podcast, Mike. This has been fantastic. Mike Shikashio: I really appreciate you having me. This was fun. Melissa Breau: I look forward to the webinar! Thanks to all of our listeners for tuning in! We’ll be back next week, this time with Jessica Hekman for Part 2 of our series on adopting an adult dog. For that episode we’ll be focusing on what is genetic and what isn’t … that is, what can we likely change! If you haven’t already, subscribe to our podcast in iTunes or the podcast app of your choice to have our next episode automatically downloaded to your phone as soon as it becomes available. CREDITS: Today’s show is brought to you by the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. Special thanks to Denise Fenzi for supporting this podcast. Music provided royalty-free by BenSound.com; the track featured here is called “Buddy.” Audio editing provided by Chris Lang. Thanks again for tuning in -- and happy training!

Every few episodes we'll be doing a listener Q&A episode, and this is the first one! Most of these questions have come in via my Instagram channel at instagram.com/mikekimtv. If you have a question, hit me up there and we may end up using your question on a future episode! Joining me as co-host on this episode is my friend, former assistant, and travel expert Chelsea Brinkley. Check out Chelsea on Instagram at instagram.com/travelbrinkley! Here are the questions that were sent in: 1. The big problem I’m trying to solve in my life, at the moment, is deciphering the next season in my life. I’m 36, and have been an educator for 13 years. I’m finding myself bored and unfulfilled. I’m seeking a new direction, but having a hard time finding which way to turn. To me, creating something from nothing, and having someone else find enough value in it to purchase it, is an indescribable feeling. I have an Amazon FBA business that I started just last year. It’s been an awesome ride, but I can’t seem to shake past the fear of going all in. I question whether I can still serve others and serve God in an e-commerce business. - Ryan 2. Hi Mike, I’m founder and director of an outreach to prostituted women. What pisses me off? Patriarchy, injustice and the multitude of ways women are hurt by it. It breaks my heart that women and children, usually the innocent ones, suffer so unfairly because of it.   But what problem am I trying to solve? Trafficking, maybe? Injustice? I don’t know. The truth is I am tired of fighting, tired of trying to change the impossible. And as I step back on sabbatical, I’m realizing, how tired I am of “the hustle.” Tired of trying to prove that this is a worthwhile fight. Tired of trying to prove that we’re a worthy investment.   I once told a friend, “I just have to accept that not everyone is going to care about this as much as I do.” And now I wonder if I still care. How much more energy or desire or creativity do I have in me to keep pursuing this dream?   I’ve begun to write a book about our experiences over the last 20 yrs. And again I’m running into the same problem, the hustle to get published, find an agent, sell copies…. How do I return to my first love and escape all the seemingly necessary hype? - name withheld    3. I am currently beginning my career in Washington D.C. in a think tank. The position did not exist before for me, so while I am grateful to be able to define the scope of my own role in the organization, I am terrified of disappointing the people who made an investment in hiring me. Do you have any thoughts on how I can move forward in order to relieve that anxiety? Perhaps like you, I did grow up with an Asian tiger mom. The pressure she put on me when I was younger evolved into pressure I put on myself, where everything I do could be better and must be better. - Scott   4. Just listened to episode 1. Just what I needed. Thank you. What pisses me off is that often times the measure of how successful you are is in terms of how expensive and how much  stuff you have and how big your house is. Oh course money and earning a living is important but experiencing life to its fullest is truly important to me. So many people I know are "maybe someday" people. Others are "could of, would of, should of" people. We don't know when we'll leave this earth, living the life, experiencing the life without regrets is what I strive for. Big problem to solve... building the work from anywhere biz that will fit the travel lifestyle that my husband and I want to achieve. Have already started and recently made some very good shifts and am gaining clarity to grow biz. It's a process for sure, a journey. - Gayle   5. It took me over 30 years to finally find what brought me meaning in my life and I really loved episode #1 because it really does begin with the relationship you have with yourself, the way you view yourself, and the beliefs you have with yourself. But the problem I think is that no one feels safe anymore to be themselves. We’re exposed to about 10,000 advertisements telling us what to do, we have our culture (Asians for sure) where we often have a path set out for is to follow by our parents, and now we have social media where people spend so much time comparing themselves to others. I’m guilty giving in to all of these and its all this noise that exists that made me never feel safe to just be myself so that I can start really listening and hearing about what mattered to me the most. It’s whats helped me figured out my process that helps people feel safe and tune into their passions and talents as well. Thanks again for sharing! - Eugene   6. I’m working on a membership site but getting overwhelmed with how much content I need and trying to figure out how to target a very tough demographic (pro athletes). I want these guys to be able to handle their own stuff so they can still make it work after their career is over. Too many guys go broke cause they can’t do anything but their sport. I have a background in law and finance. And I was a sports agent. My plan was to have other experts like Attorney’s, investors, venture capitalists, accountants etc to show them how they can maximize their money now and after they are done playing. It’s so much more than just their branding on social. Does that make sense? Wanna make sure I don’t sound crazy lol — BJ   7. I don’t ever use Instagram, but because you mentioned on your latest post/podcast that this would be the best way to reach you, I decided to send you a DM. Your 150th episode was my first episode that I caught on your show. It’s interesting how our paths cross as you end one and begin your next journey. I have come across your name via my conversations with Jeff Brown and Cliff Ravenscraft. We don’t know each other personally nor have our paths crossed (yet). But, I want to take my morning out and let you know that if you needed to reach out to me re your “time off”, please feel free to do so at anytime. I have been through similar challenging episodes in my life and sometimes I just wished I knew someone who could relate to my/our story. - Vinod   8. Mike, I listened to your last podcast and was moved. I knew you were hurting but didn't know why and didn't ask out of decency for privacy. My prayers and brotherhood are with you and when you I ready I fully support your dating and search for love. Lemme know your type bro! God Bless! - Alduan  

Highlights The US naval war of 1917 | @01:10 The Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay with Steve Bunker & Carrie Villar | @07:35 Living in NYC? Did a “Slacker” live in your apartment 100 years ago?  | @14:55 The Balfour Declaration - Promise of a Jewish Homeland in Palestine with Mike Shuster | @17:15 The worldwide history of Veterans Day | @22:05 Ceremonial Groundbreaking for America’s WWI Memorial in Washington DC | @24:10 Veterans Day Events | @24:30 Speaking WWI…  “Scrounge” | @28:00 100C/100M in Riverside IL with Joseph Baar Topinka | @29:30 International Report - Notre Dame Projection spectacular and documentary premiere | @36:20 Falling back to Daylight Standard Time - Blame the Kaiser | @37:35 The Buzz in Social Media | @39:35----more---- Opening Welcome to World War 1 centennial News - It’s about WW1 THEN - what was happening 100 years ago this week  - and it’s about WW1 NOW - news and updates about the centennial and the commemoration. Today is November 1st, 2017 and our guests this week are: Steve Bunker of the Friends of Mallows Bay and Carrie Villar curator for the Ghosts of Mallows Bay exhibit at Woodrow Wilson House Mike Shuster from the great war project blog,    And Joseph Baar Topinka, Post Commander at American Legion Post 0488 in Riverside, Illinois.   WW1 Centennial News is brought to you by the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library. I’m Theo Mayer - the Chief Technologist for the Commission and your host. Welcome to the show. [MUSIC] World War One THEN 100 Year Ago This Week [MUSIC TRANSITION] Today, we are looking at the war on the water. The Atlantic Ocean was a major factor in the war 100 years ago. It wasn’t just a military battleground but an important strategic pivot. Ships and mastery of the seas had been key factors in national strength for centuries. Fleets and armadas the stuff of legends... but the conflict on the seas during WW1 is unique and comes down to a life and death struggle between the need to move goods, materiel and men versus the threat of small, stealthy and deadly raiders - the U-boats of WWI. Like a small virus that can fell giants - the German U-boats are not just a threat to ships on the seas, but a deadly noose closing to choke the life out of nations. So Let’s jump into our wayback machine and head back to 1917 to see how all this lays out and plays out. [MUSIC TRANSITION] We’ve gone back in time 100 years and we are looking back across the waters of the year of 1917. In just the first four months of 1917, U-boat raids reduce the British grain supply to just six weeks by sinking 1,365 ships. The Kaiser’s Navy believes that by using unrestricted submarine warfare on all shipping, it can blockade England into surrender whether the U.S. intervenes in the war or not. They are killing transports faster that replacements can be built and they know they are hurting the brits - a lot! England imperial economy is hugely dependent on imports of food and raw materials,  and at the current rate of sinking it’s supply lines, it is quite possible the England and then the allies might lose the war… not to the millions of poor souls slugging it out in the trenches - but to an effective fleet of just a few hundred submarines... each typically only 214 feet long, carrying 35 men, 12 torpedoes, mines and capable of traveling underwater for two hours at a stretch. As America enters the war in April of 1917, the US Navy strategy is not focused on this threat at all. It's strategic focus is on building a POWER navy headed by giant battle cruisers and dreadnaughts… The Naval Act of 1916 authorizes the building of ten battleships and six battle cruisers -- 32 thousand and 42 thousand ton behemoths sporting massive 16" guns, supported by scores of cruisers, destroyers and new submarines. This is a big iron --- power strategy -- based on what is known as Capital Ships - ready to fight in the atlantic, caribbean and Pacific  - perhaps all at once… a prophetic vision for a quarter century later. But the real challenge and the task for the US navy just entering the war is protecting shipping lanes from the deadly stings of little raiders just under the surface. It’s an issue we need to address - not just for Brittain - but as our only way to move millions of men, equipment and supplies across the Atlantic in order to join the fight!   This is made very clear to Rear Admiral William Sims. he’s the president of the Naval War College and goes to Britain on the eve of America’s entry into the war to meet with the British Admiralty about strategy. In point of fact, the ship he travels to England on, the American Line's New York, is damaged by a submarine-laid mine as it approaches Liverpool. The Admiralty, pleads its case and makes clear that is is implementing a convoy system - something the US naval command does not believe in. This strategy requires lots of smaller ships -- primarily destroyers - to work as escorts. The British campaign for the US to refocus it’s shipbuilding on ships suited to that task of convoying. Sims, who is subsequently named commander of U.S. naval forces in European waters, becomes an early convert for convoys. On 14 April, just days after America enters the war - he cables Washington with his recommendations that the maximum number of American destroyers be made available immediately. He argues that the timely arrival of even a small number of escorts at this critical moment can have an immediate and strategically important impact on the war --  right now!! --- given the fact that it’s gonna take some time for the US to mobilize enough military land resources to have any other actual impact. There is pushback on this from Admiral William Benson -- Chief of Naval Operations and Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels who argue for putting more emphasis on armed merchant ships sailing independently, with navy patrolled sea lanes. However, Sims advocacy and additional diplomatic admiralty visits to Washington succeeds in getting twenty-eight American destroyers escorting convoys by the end of june and thirty five by end August 1917, rather than the Navy simply conducting patrols as had been the original plan.   Well, it turns out that the convoy system works - and works well - The positive results bring the Americans around - especially admiral Benson who reportedly "goes to the mat," with the American naval building priorities This ties into what we told you about in Episode 28, On Friday July 18th, 1917- President Wilson announced in the Official Bulletin that: Because of their varied contracts for shipbuilding, the yards can not carry out our program without the help of the Government; it has, therefore, been decided that the shipbuilding industry of the Nation shall be federalized. The administration appointed United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation is put in charge. Three days later - on the 21st. July 1917, Secretary Daniels orders construction of new battleships to cease. Priority is to be given to destroyers and other anti-submarine craft. He authorized construction of what would eventually total 266 destroyers. Links: http://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-u-boat-campaign-that-almost-broke-britain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U-boat_Campaign_(World_War_I) http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-unleash-u-boats https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2014/04/world-war-i-in-photos-war-at-sea/507332/ http://www.worldwar1.com/tgws/usnwwone.htm [SOUND EFFECT] Mallows Bay A huge push for ship building in the US - with many built so fast and a maybe a little shoddy  -- that over 200 of them - having served their purpose - were scuttled and sunk right after the war -- which leads us to our next story… We are going to slide into the present for just a moment to talk about The Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay -   a small bay on the Maryland side of the Potomac River in Charles County, Maryland. It’s considered the "largest shipwreck graveyard in the Western Hemisphere… and now being advocated for and being considered by NOAA to become one of the most interesting national marine sanctuary in the united states. With us here in 2017 are Steve Bunker from the Friends of Mallows Bay, and Carrie Villar, who served as interim director of Woodrow Wilson House in washington DC a national trust for historic preservation historic site and carrie is also the curator for the Ghosts of Mallows Bay exhibit,. Welcome to both of you…. [exchange greetings]   [Steve, can you tell us a bit about how, why and who sunk all those ships in Mallows Bay?]   [I understand that the bay was salvaged for steel and other metals - tell us about that?]   [Since I’ve learned about it - Mallows Bay is on my list of places I want to see.. What is the visitor experience like?]   [The Woodrow Wilson house just opened an exhibit on this - and with us is Carrie Villar the curator for the exhibit - Carrie, how and why did the Woodrow Wilson House get involved? ]   [Carrie - Can you tell us a bit  about the opening?]   Thank you both for coming on the show! That was Steve Bunker from the Friends of Mallow bay, and Carrie Villar, the curator of the Ghosts of Mallows Bay exhibit at Woodrow Wilson House. Links: http://www.woodrowwilsonhouse.org/event/exhibit-opening-ghost-fleet https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-bay/   Whipping back to 100 years ago this week --- Boy are we breaking format today  - but --- we found one more quick story that we just HAVE to slip in…   [SOUND EFFECT] Dateline October 29th, 1917 The Headline of the NY times reads: Names of New Yorkers Who Have Failed to Respond to the Draft Call 1490 of draft age ignore summons - men classed as deserters - reward of $50 for each!! WOW -- This article put out by Roger B Wood, director of the draft in New York City lists the names AND ADDRESSES of nearly 1500 young men - known at the time as SLACKERS (our Speaking WWI word from our early August episode #32) They are naming names - they are giving addresses - and they are offering rewards - and god help any one of those young men with a German sounding last name. But the reason we HAD to slip in the story - and give you the link to the article is because - when Katherine Akey - our line producer - who found the article looked through the list - well - let me have her tell you herself [Katherine tells us how she found an old apartment address in NYC that SHE lived in and challenges listeners who have done stints in NYC to check out their old addresses to see if they are SLACKER refuges!!! - fun Sam Berry, on St Mark’s Place] This very important link is in the podcast notes... link:http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9D0CE3DD113AE433A2575AC2A9669D946696D6CF [SOUND EFFECT] Great War Project The war that changed the world is connected to the roots of many of our modern conflicts and here to tell us one of the stories is Mike shuster, former NPR correspondent and curator for the Great War project blog. Hi Mike!   [Mike Shuster] Mike Shuster from the Great War Project blog. LINK: http://greatwarproject.org/2017/10/29/the-struggle-for-palestine-begins/ [SOUND EFFECT] The Great War Channel For weekly informative videos about WW1 from the European perspective, we recommend the Great War Channel on Youtube - This week - two new episodes focus on Caporetto which we introduced to you last week : FIrst == The Battle of La Malmaison [mal-may-zon] -- Breakthrough at Caporetto Next - On the Battlefield of Caporetto -- Exploring the Kovorat -- a report from the team’s trip to Italy   And finally  - Strategic Bombing on the Western Front   Follow the link in the podcast notes or search for “the great war” on youtube. Link: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGreatWar   World War One NOW [SOUND EFFECT] We have moved forward in time to the present… Welcome to WW1 Centennial News NOW  - This part of the program is not about history but how the centennial of the War that changed the world is being commemorated today.   Veterans Day History Worldwide As we continue our countdown to veterans day, let’s take a moment to look back at its origins and the variations of it around the world. Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day”, first celebrated on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of fighting during World War I. It became a national holiday in 1938 and in 1954 President EIsenhower officially changed the name to Veterans day incorporate the ideas beyond WWI. Memorial Day - that you probably think of it as the start of the summer season - focuses on veterans who paid the ultimate price, while Veterans Day - with its roots as a salute to our doughboys -  is a tribute to any American veterans—living or dead. It is our national salute to service. Great Britain, France, Australia and Canada also commemorate the veterans of World War I and World War II on or near November 11th: Canada has Remembrance Day, while Britain has Remembrance Sunday. Each country honors its veterans, and the armistice of WW1, in a slightly different way. France expelled an invader from its territory, and the tenor of commemoration there reflects that. Even the symbol of remembrance differs from place to place. The red poppy of flanders fields is common in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, Canada and America -- The French use the blue cornflower, whic – like the poppy – continued to grow in land devastated by war. No matter how our commemorations may differ, citizens from all across the globe will take pause on or around November 11th to remember the sacrifice of men and women in who serve their nations in the military. Events As we countdown to Veterans Day 2018, here are some things for you to participate in.   Ceremonial Groundbreaking for America’s WWI Memorial at Pershing Park in Washington DC Start on November 9, at 11am eastern with the ceremonial groundbreaking for the National World War One memorial at Pershing Park in Washington DC. We will be streaming it on Facebook live. We are on facebook @ww-the number 1- centennial…  or follow the link in the podcast notes. LINK: http://Facebook.com/ww1Centennial   Next be sure to tag all your related posts and photos on social media using the hashtag #countdowntoveteransday.   Link: https://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp http://www.military.com/veterans-day/history-of-veterans-day.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleuet_de_France#/media/File:CPA_Bleuet_de_France_1914-1918.jpg We suggest you visit the U.S. National WW1 Centennial Events Register at WW1CC.org/events to look for Veterans Day events near you. Many WWI related organizations have posted events in the national register. We have picked a few of them to tell you about...   NYC In the Big Apple, the famous New York City Veterans Day Parade is the largest Veterans Day event in the nation. The Parade takes place every November 11, rain or shine with activities commencing at 10am.  Over 300 units and tens of thousands of marchers assemble near Madison Square Park, including veterans of all eras, military units, civic & youth groups, businesses, and high school bands from across America.   Also in New York, on Thursday evening the 9th of November the annual Flanders Remembers Concert will present Distortion, a Hymn to Liberty on at the Kaufman Music Center in New York.  Commissioned by the Government of Flanders, the piece commemorates the Centennial of World War I, and the concert will benefit the United War Veterans Council.   Washington DC area Also on November 11th, Arlington National Cemetery will host its annual commemorations on Veterans Day. A prelude concert will begin in the Memorial Amphitheater at 10:30 a.m followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at 11 a.m. Commemoration ceremonies are being held all over the country! Not just in major metros. For example... Wilberforce Ohio In Wilberforce Ohio, the National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center is holding a Veterans Day Commemoration Event where award winning history teacher and Ohio World War I Committee member Paul LaRue will present a program that examine Ohio's African American World War I soldiers, their service and their sacrifice. Saint Paul, Minnesota The Minnesota History Center is hosting a lecture on November 11th where you can learn about the 34th “Red Bull” Infantry Division, a National Guard division from Minnesota, that went “over there” in WW1. Louisville, Kentucky In Louisville, Kentucky, a special WWI commemorative display will be set up with pictures and WWI military artifacts organized In conjunction with the annual Veterans Day program. Rutherford NJ And finally, The Rutherford NJ World War I Centennial Committee will hold a centennial remembrance program at the base of their WWI memorial column, which was a recent awardee in our 100 Cities/100 Memorials program. There will be remarks by the Mayor and dignitaries and a reading of the names of Rutherford's dead as well as a ceremonial 20' x 30' flag folding with taps followed by a special exhibition on many Rutherford veterans of the war including one of a kind personal artifacts. Two films will also be shown, "The Lost Battalion" and "Dear Home-Letters from WWI"   So check the events register at ww1cc.org/events - and if your Veterans Day event is NOT posted in the register - click the big red button and submit it to get it into the national archival register of Veterans Day commemorations that happened during the centennial of the war that changed the world! We have LOTS of links in the podcast notes! Links: http://uwvc.org/vetsday2017/parade-details/ http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/communicate/press-media/wwi-centennial-news/3371-flanders-remembers-concert-commemorates-u-s-entry-into-wwi.html http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/News/Post/2954/Visiting-Arlington-National-Cemetery-on-Veterans-Day http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/commemorate/event-map-system/eventdetail/10288/64th-veterans-day-observance.html http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/commemorate/event-map-system/eventdetail/47040/veterans-day-commemoration-event.html http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/commemorate/event-map-system/eventdetail/35980/forgotten-stories-of-ww1-34th-red-bull-infantry-division.html http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/commemorate/event-map-system/eventdetail/42617/veterans-day-and-salute-to-wwi-observance.html http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/commemorate/event-map-system/eventdetail/47821/ww1-veterans-day-remembrance.html Speaking WW1 And now for our feature “Speaking World War 1 - Where we  explore today’s words & phrases that are rooted in the war  --- Looking for things you needed was a near daily activity at the front; men hunted for supplies and for food, especially when units moved into new territory where the locals may have left goodies behind, or when their unit was cut off from a supply line. So a new word for hunting around and scavenging for something grew in popularity during WW1, the word is Scrounge! The war threw together a lot of cultures and classes who found themselves on common footing - equalized by the rigors of war - and as a result they traded ideas, ways and words! We’ve introduced words and phrases in this segment that made their way into English language or slang from French, Romany, Urdu and German. Srounge is a slang word that comes from a Northern British origin. It’s possibly an alteration of scrunge ("to search stealthily, rummage, pilfer") or  scringe ("to pry about"); or perhaps related to scrouge, to ("push, jostle").   Whatever its initial origin, Scrounging something up -- made its way into common use in the war that changed the world. See the podcast notes to learn more! link: https://www.amazon.com/Tommy-Doughboy-Fritz-Soldier-Slang/dp/1445637839/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1508848013&sr=8-1&keywords=tommy+doughboy+fritz https://books.google.com/books?id=KKgHkD6O1-cC&pg=PA225&lpg=PA225&dq=scrounge+northern+england+slang&source=bl&ots=QlDYSFWI-o&sig=9iPLJUj-7rgG0rO8mSTXRfsLxF8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwji_cXX6prXAhUKOiYKHXolAN0Q6AEIQjAE#v=onepage&q=scrounge&f=false https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/scrounge 100 Cities/100 Memorials [SOUND EFFECT Gold Star Memorial at Guthrie Park in Riverside, IL Moving to our 100 Cities / 100 Memorials segment about the $200,000 matching grant challenge to rescue and focus on our local WWI memorials. This week we are profiling the Gold Star Memorial at Guthrie Park in Riverside, IL -- with us tell us about the project is Joseph Baar Topinka, Post Commander at American Legion Post 488 in Riverside, Illinois.   Welcome, Joseph! [exchange greetings]   [Joseph, tell us a bit about the Gold Star Memorial at Guthrie Park-- what is its history?]   [You are one of the first 50 awardees for the program - how has this affected your community]   [What kinds of restorative work are you planning to do on the memorial? And how did the American Legion get involved?]   [do you have plans for a rededication?]   [exchange thanks]   That was Joseph Baar Topinka, Post Commander, American Legion Post 488 in Riverside, Illinois. We are going to continue to profile 100 Cities / 100 Memorials projects - not only awardees but also teams that are continuing on to round #2 which is now open for submissions.   So as we talked about last week - this memorial day weekend - if you want to do something for the doughboys -it’s easy - take a walk!  - Look around your town and find your local WWI memorial. I promise it’s there - or was.. Look near the your county or city court house, check your parks, if they are old - or even just have an old flagpole - look around your local school buildings, find your American Legion or the VFW post, or check markers of your local cemetery. When you DO find your WWI memorial, and if it needs some TLC, please go to WW1CC.org/100Memorials and see how you can start the ball rolling to get that memorial and the doughboys it honors some support. Have a great veterans day - and do wear sunscreen!   You can follow the link in the podcast notes. Link: www.ww1cc.org/100memorials [SOUND EFFECT] International Report Films at French Embassy/Notre Dame Projection Installation In our International report this week, we head to Paris and the beautiful, iconic Notre Dame.  From November 7th to 11th, Notre Dame will be lit up by projections all over the building. The exhibit, called Dame De Coeur, is a tribute to the thousands of allied soldiers who fought and gave their lives for freedom. The piece is being done by director Bruno Seillier, who is very experienced at monumental projection mapping installations. Each night before the light show, the new film “The American in Paris: The True Story of the American Hospital of Paris in WWI” will be screened. The film tells the story of the American Hospital in Paris, from its start as a 24-bed facility for the expatriate community of Paris in 1910, to its dramatic expansion to a more than 2000 beds during the first world war. The projection show and film are expected to be seen by over 60,000 people, but there is a chance to see the film stateside: The Cultural Service French Embassy in Washington, DC is screening the film on November 6th, and tickets are still available. Follow the link in the podcast notes for details about both of these events. link:https://www.damedecoeur.paris/en/the-show-queen-of-hearts/ http://frenchculture.org/events/6473-americans-paris Special Daylight Savings Special A special reminder this week to prepare yourself for Daylight Savings, Actually - it’s backward from what you think - we are just about to head into DAYLIGHT STANDARD time. But in any case - when you wake up Monday groggy and annoyed at the seemingly random one-hour shift we tolerate every year, we have someone for you to blame: the Kaiser! Although some say it was Benjamin Franklin who first proposed the idea --- The Germans were among the first to institute Daylight Savings, and they did so in 1916, two years into World War One. The concept was meant to be a temporary measure during the war, a way of conserving energy and providing more usable hours of daylight by getting up later into the morning and going to bed earlier in the evening. The British, French and many others quickly followed suit, and Daylight Savings remained a staple of wartime life. Most countries dropped it after World War I, and it wasn’t until the next World War that Daylight Savings Time made its return in most of Europe, and America too. Read more about the war time application of daylight savings at the link in the podcast notes.   Link: http://online.wsj.com/ww1/daylight-saving-time https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/history.html   Articles and Posts North Carolina Scholar As we move into our Articles and Posts -- this week at ww1cc.org/news there is an article courtesy of  the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the story of one North Carolinian who served in the war, but never fired a shot. Instead, Wilmington native Charles Jastrow Mendelsohn served as a cryptographer during the war period —someone who specializes in encrypting and decrypting sensitive information—. The entirety of his year-long military term was spent stateside at posts in Washington D.C. and New York City where Mendelsohn led at team tasked with decrypting intercepted German diplomatic correspondence. Read more about how a professor of ancient languages at the City College of New York helped the U.S. read the enemy's mail during WWI by following the link in the notes. link:http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/communicate/press-media/wwi-centennial-news/3374-wilmingtonian-decodes-german-world-war-i-correspondence.html The Buzz - WW1 in Social Media Posts That brings us to the buzz - the centennial of WW1 this week in social media with Katherine Akey - Katherine, what are your picks out of the great stories from social media this week? Hi Theo!   Motorcycle Club We have two really great articles to share today. We’ll start with a heartwarming story from Fort Wayne Indiana, which we shared on Facebook recently. Last Sunday, 75 trees were escorted by motorcade through Fort Wayne Saturday morning before being planted at Memorial Park. Warrior Breed Motorcycle Club organized the effort and were joined by police, fire and military personnel along the route. Memorial Park had, according to the article, fallen into a bit of disrepair, and the group was worried it would be repurposed. Eventually, 125 new trees will be planted in Memorial park, each dedicated to a soldier who gave their life in WW1. Warrior Breed Motorcycle club president Gary Perkey said, “A hundred years ago there was a committee, I’m sure, discussing Memorial Park and what they were going to do to memorialize these WWI vets and here were are 100 years later doing the exact same thing, having the same discussions and planting these trees one again.” It’s a great story about local remembrance of WW1 and how moving and impactful it can be. An official dedication is planned for this November 11th, so if you’re in the Fort Wayne area check the link in the podcast notes to learn more.   link:http://wane.com/2017/10/28/motorcycle-club-escorts-plants-trees-honoring-wwi-veterans/ Ships Ships Ships Finally this week, we’re going to go back to the top of the show with an amazing collection of photos from the Atlantic all about the war at sea during WW1. The Atlantic published a series of ten collections of photos back in 2014, at the very beginning of the centennial of the war and they are absolutely wonderful. The War at Sea series includes images of u-boats cresting over waves in the Atlantic, disabled ships in the Dardanelles being blown up, mines being dragged ashore in Heligoland, a delicate looking Curtiss AB-2 being catapulted off the deck of a warship, ship cats and lots of images of dazzle camouflage. There’s even a Paget Process image from Jaffa, Israel; a super early color photograph; though it’s mostly pinks and greens and looks a bit surreal, the Paget Process photos are super beautiful. Check out these incredible images at the link in the podcast notes. And that’s it this week for the Buzz! link:https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2014/04/world-war-i-in-photos-war-at-sea/507332/ Closing And that all our stories for you this week on WW1 Centennial News - Now before you flick off your play button - remember - for those of you who listen to end - we always leave you with a special goody or two! So in closing - we want to thank our guests: Steve Bunker and Carrie Villar telling us the story of the Ghosts of Mallows Bay Mike Shuster and his report of action in the Middle East Joseph Baar Topinka from the 100 Cities/100 Memorials project in Riverside, Illinois Katherine Akey the Commission’s social media director and also the line producer for the show.   Thanks to Eric Marr for his contributions to this episode - Eric has joined our editorial team as a researcher and writer. And I am Theo Mayer - your host. The US World War One Centennial Commission was created by Congress to honor, commemorate and educate about WW1. Our programs are to-- inspire a national conversation and awareness about WW1; This program is a part of that…. We are bringing the lessons of the 100 years ago into today's classrooms; We are helping to restore WW1 memorials in communities of all sizes across our country; and of course we are building America’s National WW1 Memorial in Washington DC. We want to thank commission’s founding sponsor the Pritzker Military Museum and Library for their support. The podcast can be found on our website at ww1cc.org/cn   on  iTunes and google play ww1 Centennial News, and on Amazon Echo or other Alexa enabled devices. Just say: Alexa: Play W W One Centennial News Podcast. Our twitter and instagram handles are both @ww1cc and we are on facebook @ww1centennial. Thank you for joining us. And don’t forget to share the stories you are hearing here today with someone about the war that changed the world!   [music]   Don’t forget - we want you to scrounge around your town to find your local WWI memorials. And thank a vet for their service this Veterans day week! So long!

VOX LIVE Questions - Gospel of Paul, Wives Submit to Husbands, Satan, and Bible canonization - May 4th, 2017 1. Hi Mike - you spoke in a podcast recently about having a faith based on Paul vs having it build on Jesus and the gospel. Can you expound more on this and the implications of each? 2. Can you explain submission/ the love and respect dichotomy described in Ephesians 5? I want to follow and obey God, but I have seen many poor examples of men abusing their power and women being disrespected in marriages. What does it mean to submit to a husband? Should love and respect go both ways? Does a man actually have the final say? As a single person, marriage doesn't sound that appealing if in the end my opinion isn't as important as a man's. Shouldn't all disagreements be discussed and both parties compromise at times? I would think having a mentality of submission/authority would be detrimental to healthy and functioning relationship. 3. Can God destroy Satan? If so, why hasn't he? If not, why can't he? 4. Can you talk about the canonization and why some books of the bible are in there and why others like Gospel of Thomas is not in there? www.voxpodcast.com Subscribe on iTunes - http://apple.co/1Lla1Nj Music provided by Izzi Ray - http://www.soundcloud.com/izziray Music available on iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/izzi-ray/id386256769 Support the VOX Podcast on Patreon: www.patreon.com/voxpodcast Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/thevoxpodcast Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/voxpodcast Follow Mike on Twitter www.twitter.com/mikeerre Follow Andy on Twitter www.twitter.com/Andy_lara

Now you can turn your motorhome into a houseboat. I first heard about this very cool (and expensive!) invention at the Perry, GA gathering of the Family Motorcoach Association when I met the man who dreamed up and built something called the RollerBoat, a floating contraption that can certainly take your motorhome places its never been before. Plus this week, we have lots of great questions, comments and tips from readers this week! Also a song you'll want to hear that captures all the fun of the RV lifestyle sent in by one of our readers [spp-player] First, Jennifer shares listener feedback on last week's tip about the KAYWOS Cloth… the “Klean Anything Without Leafing a Streak” cloths we featured in Episode 83. Sue, it seems, found yet another interesting use for these cloths. Here's her message: Hi Mike and Jennifer - Last summer, after hearing your review on Kaywos cloths, I purchased one. These cloths are amazing!! This is the first time I've been able to have streak free windows. But... not only that... we have a Jack Russell Terrier (her name is Lizzy Lizard Licker) who loves to hunt for small rodents. Yesterday, that hunt included a long period of time under the car. When she came out, her normally white coat had a distinct greasy gray smear all along her back. Rather than give her a bath (she'll just go under the car again tomorrow), I thought I would give the Kaywos cloth a go and see what it would do. Amazing!!! It got most of that grime off her coat and saved me from having to bath her. Thanks so much for the great tip about Kaywos Cloth. Best regards and hope to see you on the road somewhere, Susan Garriques JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK – FOLDING LAUNDRY HAMPER Dirty laundry. Sometimes, it seems like it follows me everywhere. Especially on RV trips. What to do with it? For a couple of years, we stuffed it in plastic bags. And that, we learned the hard way is not such a good idea. The clothes get really stinky in them and even after washing, that smell can be hard to get rid of. The solution for us is a collapsible clothes hamper. Actually, we bought a set of two of them. That's how they come, a pack of two for $18.99 from Amazon. We got the StorageManiac Foldable Pop-Up Mesh Hamper. Usually, we only need one. But on long trips, the second one comes in handy. They are made from 100 percent polyester mesh and fold down flat for easy storage. They have a sturdy steel frame that pops up to allow for lots of dirty clothes. They have easy carry handles, which makes it convenient when you take your dirty clothes to a laundrymat. Each of these collapsible hampers holds more clothes than you carry. When popped up or open, they measure a bit over 14-inches by 17-inches. And because they are mesh, the dirty clothes don't have an odor problem. We store the hamper in the bathroom, on a hook mounted o the side wall. Each hamper also has side pockets, which gives ample storage space for laundry accessories, delicates, socks, and so on. The tip of the week is brought to you by Good Sam, the world's most popular RV organization, now celebrating its 50th year. LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: JJ, a solo female traveler, wonders how Jennifer and I travel in our Class B motorhome when she barely has enough room in her 30-foot model. We share our experience Harry wonders how our solar panels can possibly work when we're parked in the shade. They do, but at a less efficient rate will operate down to approximately 20% of a sun which is a gray sky, cloudy day. Below 20%, the voltage drops off significantly and the solar module will not be able to maintain a charge into a battery or device. Keep in mind that at 20% of sunlight the power generated by the solar module will be approximately 20% of the solar modules rating. Jim asks us for the name of the combination cooking appliance we take with us and use for most of our meal prep. We use the Cuisinart Griddler for grilling and most of the cooking we do,

Go against the Real Estate Grain with Michael Sherwood Jack Butala:                   Mike Sherwood is a Real Estate investor, broker, property manager, he's been involved in Real Estate since 2007 buying his first duplex at 22, he currently owns 45 units and manages over 175 units primarily focused on multi-family homes in Buffalo. Hi Mike! Jill DeWit:                            Hello. Mike:                                    Hey, how is it going guys? Jack Butala:                   Good, I've got Jill on the line, I hope you can hear her okay. Mike:                                    Yeah, I can hear her, she's a little soft spoken, but I can hear her. Jack Butala:                   That'll change in a minute, trust me. Jill DeWit:                            I was waiting for that. Do you like Mike or Michael? Mike:                                    It doesn't matter. The only time I'm usually called Michael is when I'm getting yelled at by my wife. Jill DeWit:                            I will call you Mike. Jack Butala:                   Did you get yelled at for doing a podcast at 7 o'clock on Tuesday? Mike:                                    Well, my wife has become very understanding about Real Estate and having a business and working, so she's really kind of cool about it. When we first started dating she was like, "Oh, that's kind of cool, but it takes up a lot of time," and she didn't like it, but she kind of understands it now. Jill DeWit:                            That's good. Jack Butala:                   We always end up talking about people's spouses on these shows. Jill DeWit:                            It's funny. Mike:                                    I think the reason why that happens is because you kind of need to be on the same page with a lot of this stuff, and if you're not, then you run into issues, so my wife understands it's something for our long term retirement, so she gets it. Jack Butala:                   We have a pretty large member base now of people where we all together buy land and sell land and sell it on terms and generate a pretty good income stream, and one of our members recently said that his wife didn't buy into this. He's one of our most successful members by the way, when he started, he said his wife was so skeptical that he had to do a real quick flip, just for like a thousand bucks I think, or 7 or 800 bucks he made on it, just to convince her that this really can work. Jill DeWit:                            After that one, she's in, she's like "Okay we're good." Jack Butala:                   Happens to all of us. I would say the worse thing that can happen if you walk into a casino is that you win in the first three minutes. Then it's like you're just prolonging the death. Mike:                                    Definitely the case. I guess I'm very fortunate that she gets it. The only thing she doesn't like about it is that we kind of sacrifice a little bit on the Real Estate stuff because it's more of a long term strategy. She kinds of looks at it and says, "Hey, when can I buy more purses? Hey when can I buy this, hey when can I buy that?" I'm like, "This is for our kids." Jack Butala:                   That's great. No one can argue with that. "This is for our kids." Jill DeWit:                            That's good. Mike:                                    Yeah. We don't have any yet, but I know it's coming. It's definitely going to come some time. Probably the next year or so I'd say. We're closing on a house, like an actual house to live in, rather than an investment, in December, middle of December. It's exciting, I've done it many times, but I actually got sick to my stomach when I signed the paperwork because I was like "This is the first house I'm going to buy that isn't making me money, and it's not an asset." Jill DeWit:                            We have to back up and record all this St...

Go against the Real Estate Grain with Michael Sherwood Jack Butala:                   Mike Sherwood is a Real Estate investor, broker, property manager, he's been involved in Real Estate since 2007 buying his first duplex at 22, he currently owns 45 units and manages over 175 units primarily focused on multi-family homes in Buffalo. Hi Mike! Jill DeWit:                            Hello. Mike:                                    Hey, how is it going guys? Jack Butala:                   Good, I've got Jill on the line, I hope you can hear her okay. Mike:                                    Yeah, I can hear her, she's a little soft spoken, but I can hear her. Jack Butala:                   That'll change in a minute, trust me. Jill DeWit:                            I was waiting for that. Do you like Mike or Michael? Mike:                                    It doesn't matter. The only time I'm usually called Michael is when I'm getting yelled at by my wife. Jill DeWit:                            I will call you Mike. Jack Butala:                   Did you get yelled at for doing a podcast at 7 o'clock on Tuesday? Mike:                                    Well, my wife has become very understanding about Real Estate and having a business and working, so she's really kind of cool about it. When we first started dating she was like, "Oh, that's kind of cool, but it takes up a lot of time," and she didn't like it, but she kind of understands it now. Jill DeWit:                            That's good. Jack Butala:                   We always end up talking about people's spouses on these shows. Jill DeWit:                            It's funny. Mike:                                    I think the reason why that happens is because you kind of need to be on the same page with a lot of this stuff, and if you're not, then you run into issues, so my wife understands it's something for our long term retirement, so she gets it. Jack Butala:                   We have a pretty large member base now of people where we all together buy land and sell land and sell it on terms and generate a pretty good income stream, and one of our members recently said that his wife didn't buy into this. He's one of our most successful members by the way, when he started, he said his wife was so skeptical that he had to do a real quick flip, just for like a thousand bucks I think, or 7 or 800 bucks he made on it, just to convince her that this really can work. Jill DeWit:                            After that one, she's in, she's like "Okay we're good." Jack Butala:                   Happens to all of us. I would say the worse thing that can happen if you walk into a casino is that you win in the first three minutes. Then it's like you're just prolonging the death. Mike:                                    Definitely the case. I guess I'm very fortunate that she gets it. The only thing she doesn't like about it is that we kind of sacrifice a little bit on the Real Estate stuff because it's more of a long term strategy. She kinds of looks at it and says, "Hey, when can I buy more purses? Hey when can I buy this, hey when can I buy that?" I'm like, "This is for our kids." Jack Butala:                   That's great. No one can argue with that. "This is for our kids." Jill DeWit:                            That's good. Mike:                                    Yeah. We don't have any yet, but I know it's coming. It's definitely going to come some time. Probably the next year or so I'd say. We're closing on a house, like an actual house to live in, rather than an investment, in December, middle of December. It's exciting, I've done it many times, but I actually got sick to my stomach when I signed the paperwork because I was like "This is the first house I'm going to buy that isn't making me money, and it's not an asset." Jill DeWit:                            We have to back up and record all this St...

I was asked by one friend recently (Hi Mike) to make the podcasts much shorter. So, I thought I would produce a sequence of podcasts where I simply have a chat with another mate (Hi Matt) over a couple of beers in Stockton Heath.I've not added any narration to introduce the conversations or provide context - I thought I'd simply let the conversations speak for themselves.So, here's the first in a mini series called 'Matt Chats'.And, at least, you get to see a photograph here of Stockton Heath when it had a roundabout !Hope to talk to you soon.

News: Soundcloud Takedowns purging a TON of files. If you host your podcast there, BE CAREFUL not to include any copyrighted material. http://podcasternews.com/2015/08/24/soundcloud-takedowns-trigger-massive-purge/ Panoply acquired by AudioMetric. http://podcasternews.com/2015/08/12/panoply-has-acquired-audiometric/ --------------- Followup from Ahmad about his hiss problem. Hi Mike, I can't thank you enough for answering my question here and on your great show. That's awesome. I waited until I listened to the episode and the demo you made. Regarding the hiss issue, please have a listen to the attached audio clips -NOT to be published :) All clips are recorded in Adobe Audition and from their saved as mp3. I also want to mention these points about the hiss I'm getting: - It's not a buzz or hum. It's just a white noise just like that you get from a cheap mixer pres when you crank the gain all the way up. May be I'm being an audiophile. I just don't hear such a noise in your recordings or in any other advanced podcaster's. My podcast is about podcasting :) and I want to get as clean audio as I can. - It's probably less hiss than that in your demo. It's like the one in your demo but after your have applied the noise reduction process. - The Mackie interface I'm using is powered via USB only. So, the ground issue is not likely to be the cause although I get another buzz when my Macbook is charging in 120v only. I managed to deal with that either by unplugging the charger or using the 3 to 2-prong adapter you mentioned. - It's not the Mackie fault because it is present even if I plug the AT2005 via USB directly into the MacBook. - I use a Planet Waves XLR 3-foot cable. There is no power cables near my setup, no power supply bricks in the room. I also tried a different Audio-Technica cable just to make sure. - As I said, it's like the noise from a preamp. But the Mackie Onyx Blackjack has a clean preamps. I think your mixer has the same Onyx ones. They are very clean up to 60dB which I never go above. After that you get a really annoying noise. - I suspect that it is the dynamic mics as they tend to be gain hungry and never have enough gain. - I tried the noise reduction tool in Audition and though it removed the hiss completely from silences, I didn't like the over all result that it gave my voice. I think it negates the idea of having a professional setup. I sounded like talking with a cheap headset. My question this time is that: If I add a gate like the Behringer you use or the DBX 286s, will this kill the noise? Thank you so much. Keep the good work. Best, Ahmad A: Ahmad, I have to say all three of the samples you sent me seem great. I’m not hearing much in the silence so whatever it is you are hearing is not nearly as bad as you think it is. It might be you are getting a bit picky (which is normal for podcasters to do). You might just be hearing the room noise, even though it seems very low / non-existent to me. In that case, a noise gate such as the Autocom Pro XL I have, or the DBX box would silence the blank spaces in your audio file. It might be worth a try. The compressor, limiter, and expander functions are handy in some situations, but I don’t really use that part. Just the gate function. I then do my compression and such in post editing along with normalizing using Auphonic. Do you need Media hosting? Did I hear you say on a recent podcast you don't have to have a hosting account with a Libsyn or Blubrry to link a podcast to iTunes? If so, how do I go about submitting an rss/feed to iTunes and other podcast directories. Great show. Dan A: no, you don’t NEED Libsyn or Blubrry to generate an RSS feed. In fact, the best way (contrary to SOME beliefs) is using a wordpress.org website (Self hosted, not Wordpress.com) and using powerpress to generate your podcast-compliant RSS feed.

Episode Content:Introduce Adrian ByeQuestion 1:Hi Mike from Miami, FloridaI have found your youtube videos very informative and have a question for you.I plan to make my first trip to China late this summer and want to know if you can recommend a Chinese translator for hire.Thanks in advance,BermanSent from Mobile DeviceQuestion 2: From Steve in ColoradoMajor Question:How best to market/advertise both the website and the App to get any "play"in China?There seems to be no FB, and Weibo is all Chinese - how do Americancompanies push their products? A partner in China?Thanks again Mike, I look forward to hearing from you.What do you think of the question series? We need your questions for upcoming shows!Episode Mentions:Adrian's website OpenDaoMike can help you find a Chinese assistant 51jobShenzhenParty and other English sites in China for job postsLeave us your China business questions hereDownload and SubscribeDownload this episode: right click on this link and choose "save as"Subscribe to China Business Cast on iTunesOr check out the full list on subscription options

In our first episode of 2015 we are joined by regular guest extraordinaire, Jason as well his good friend, Scott. Scott is apparently an actual fan of the show. Let that one sink in…we have a real listener and reader of this thing. Not sure who I’m typing to here so….Hi Mike, Jason and Scott! Anyways…we […]

We’re down one Mike Meade on this podcast, but it’s still an awesome episode. Or… Maybe that’s why it’s an … Continue reading "The TouchArcade Show – 165 – Hi (Mike’s) Mom!"