Dave A Kaplan

Listen to "Dave A Kaplan Releases The Most Dangerous Branch" on Spreaker. Two centuries ago, Alexander Hamilton described the Supreme Court as "the least dangerous branch." That's no longer true, argues David A. Kaplan, former legal affairs editor of Newsweek, especially in the wake of Justice Anthony Kennedy's retirement. Time and again, the justices arrogantly intervene simply because they can, subverting democracy in the process. It's not that they're rank partisans-it's that we've foolishly come to accept their dominion over American life. Whatever one thinks on this social issue or that-from abortion and gun control to campaign finance and voting rights-that's bad for the country. The Court's ascendance does not only give too much authority to nine unelected, unaccountable justices. It enfeebles Congress, diminishes the value of politics, and corrupts confirmation hearings. Yet few question the Court's astonishing power. Kaplan does in THE MOST DANGEROUS BRANCH: Inside the Supreme Court's Assault on the Constitution, (Crown; on sale September 4, 2018), a richly reported narrative that will rile conservatives and liberals alike. Set to publish in the throes of the confirmation hearing, the book will be the most recent assessment of the current Court, and will include content on Justice Kennedy's retirement and what it means for the Court. When Justice Antonin Scalia died in 2016, supporters on both sides of the aisle agreed the next justice could "reshape" American life "for a generation." Is that really what we want to invest in a single individual? In the Trump-Clinton presidential election, many voters said they made their choice based on who they thought would be nominated to the Court. THE MOST DANGEROUS BRANCH insists that is not how self-government is supposed to work. The retirement of Justice Kennedy only raises the stakes. With his newest nominee, Trump can transform the Court into a conservative juggernaut that will reign supreme over national policy for decades. Year after year, Democrats and Republicans fight for control of the Court-as if it's just an electoral prize. But neither side bothers to ask if entrusting the Court with such vast power is wise. Combining behind-the-scenes interviews and keen analysis, THE MOST DANGEROUS BRANCH takes us deep inside the Court to learn who the justices really are. We find out what happened in the first Obamacare ruling and what John Roberts thinks about his conservative critics. We see Neil Gorsuch's discordant ways, Sonia Sotomayor's frustrations, Ruth Bader Ginsburg's celebrity, and Clarence Thomas's fury. We see the justices as more than distant deities. At a key moment for the country, THE MOST DANGEROUS BRANCH challenges conventional wisdom about the Supreme Court's transcendent power.

Andrea Canning

Listen to "Andrea Canning From Dateline NBC" on Spreaker. Andrea Canning is a correspondent for "Dateline NBC" and contributes to all NBC News platforms. Canning reports on major crime stories, high profile trials and breaking news including the Boston Marathon Bombing, Hurricane Sandy, the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and the terrorist attack at Pulse nightclub in Orlando. Since arriving at Dateline, Canning has also reported hour-long documentaries on campus sexual assault and adoption fraud. Prior to joining NBC News in 2012, Canning served as an ABC News correspondent since 2004 where she covered the White House, Congress, the Supreme Court and the Iraq War. Canning covered a wide array of stories ranging from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and the Casey Anthony case, to her 2011 headline-making interview with actor Charlie Sheen. Canning previously worked for WCPO-TV, the ABC affiliate in Cincinnati, Ohio, as anchor of their evening newscast. From 1999 to 2001, Canning covered countless stories for WPTV, the NBC affiliate in West Palm Beach, Florida, including the anthrax scare at the National Enquirer buildings, the path of the 9/11 terrorists, the international custody battle of Elian Gonzalez and the 2000 Presidential Election. Canning served as a reporter and evening news anchor for CKVR Television in Barrie, Ontario from 1997 to 1999. She was also the morning anchor for WXVT-CBS in Greenville, Mississippi. Prior to CKVR, from 1996 to 1997, Canning was an assignment editor and field producer for the television program "Extra." Canning graduated from the University of Western Ontario in London with a degree in psychology. Additionally, she studied radio and television arts at Ryerson Polytechnic University in Toronto. Canning is married to Major Tony Bancroft, a former F-18 fighter pilot with the U.S. Marine Corps. They have five young daughters. Canning is on Twitter @CanningAndrea.

You Are The Seed Part Three Grateful

Listen to "You Are The Seed Part Three Grateful" on Spreaker. During moments of personal victory Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs used to hit his chest twice then point to the sky. I'm one of very few that didn't believe in the grateful ways he was projecting. I felt it was part of the act. It sold tickets. It's always been one of those silent spots in my heart. Do any of us truly know what being grateful is all about? We know the word. Preachers use it every Sunday. It must be a safe place to stand. On this podcast I dig in deep and openly admit that I believe God looks at me and shakes his head from side to side saying "You have no idea what grateful is." Such thinking opens my heart and mind but does it activate the reason for the change in the season? To be grateful doesn't mean you're in constant victory. How often do you push yourself away from a dinner plate of heavy changes and challenges? Making it through those storms is a step toward gratefulness. Walking away from them is a completely different painting on the wall, "Thank you God for getting me out of that mess!" What if you were meant to be there to pick up a life lesson? Now put it in forward motion.

You Are The Seed Part Two To Testify

Listen to "You Are The Seed Part Two To Testify" on Spreaker. The first part of this blog/podcast brought out the awareness of how many seeds each of us carry forward. The majority of those seeds of inspiration, influence, positive change go unnoticed because we live in a society that wants an R.O.I. Return of investment. The idea that great careers don't instantly begin brings a lot of people down. I've been to those top rated radio stations performing the greatest shows of my career. The ratings showed a different story. I tossed a lot of my seeds out of this system of choice. My artwork was once featured in galleries across the country. Til I had a bad show in New Orleans. I've not painted since. Seeds... On this podcast we leap into a subject many don't want to deal with. When we raise our arms begging the universe to set us free are we doing it for selfish reasons? How to turn selfish into serving. Wait! Don't run off and think you know how you were chosen to serve. Anybody can walk into a non-profit organization and take on the challenge. Is that the serving you were chosen for? That's an extremely tough question to activate. We can spend all day helping others serve. What are you being called to serve? There's a huge difference on your walk locked in forward emotion.

Listen to "Joko Willink and Leif Babin Release The Dichotomy Of Leadership" on Spreaker. THE DICHOTOMY OF LEADERSHIP: Balancing the Challenges of Extreme Ownership to Lead and Win(published by St. Martin’s Press), Jocko and Leif dive even deeper into the difficult decisions faced by leaders at every level of every organization. Their new book explores the uncharted and complex waters of a concept first introduced in Extreme Ownership: finding balance between the opposing forces that pull every leader in different directions. Now, Willink and Babin get granular into the nuances that every successful leader must navigate. With examples from the authors’ combat and training experiences in the SEAL teams, and then a demonstration of how each lesson applies to the business world, Willink and Babin clearly explain THE DICHOTOMY OF LEADERSHIP. These skills are mission-crucial for any leader and any team to achieve victory.

Adam Corolla

Listen to "Adam Corolla From Chassy On Pluto TV" on Spreaker. Pluto TV and Chassy Media today announced the launch of Chassy, a new and exclusive channel dedicated to delivering premium entertainment tapping into the passion, culture and history of automobiles, motorcycles, racing, vintage cars, and all things motor machinery. The Chassy channel is thoughtfully curated to deliver a robust lineup of historical documentaries, fast-paced feature films and television shows that explore this thrilling world through an artistic lens. Chassy Media was founded by Adam Carolla and Nathan Adams in 2016 as a dedicated digital destination to distribute the films they were producing based on their love of automobiles, motorcycles, racing and vintage cars. Launching Chassy on Pluto TV marks the next chapter in Carolla's successful media empire where he has earned coveted success as a comedian on radio and TV, podcast host, New York Times best-selling author, movie director, producer and now an operator of his own streaming television channel. "Chassy Media began as a digital, grassroots hub for the automotive documentaries that we were developing and producing," states Adam Carolla. "Being a vintage racer and lifelong car guy, I wanted to really make sure we were getting great content out to as many gear heads and enthusiasts as possible." Launching an entire channel on a free streaming service like Pluto TV, to a built-in audience, is a win on every level." "Chassy's projects are about blending high level filmmaking with the history, passion and beauty of anything with an engine," said Nathan Adams, president of production & acquisitions of Chassy Media. "There is an endless supply of amazing, compelling stories in motor sports, and we plan to deliver as many as possible though Chassy and Pluto TV. We're delighted to partner with a leading free streaming television service like Pluto TV to distribute these projects in a unique way." The Chassy channel is the newest addition to Pluto TV, the leading streaming television service, with a lineup that includes 100+ live, linear, curated channels and thousands of movies on demand from major studios, networks, publishers and digital media companies. Chassy will launch exclusively on Pluto TV on August 21st, 2018. "Chassy is the perfect addition to the Pluto TV family of channels," says Amy Kuessner, SVP of Content Partnerships, Pluto TV. "With a robust offering of theme-based channels, Chassy taps into a world of automobiles in a way that showcases the beauty, artistry and history in a way that no other has been able to do. With a library of content that speaks to all audiences, enthusiasts and more, we are eager to be able to work with such an established force in media to deliver their passion and artistry through yet another medium."

You Are The Seed

Listen to "You Are The Seed" on Spreaker. Before I arrive to write each morning I take two walks. The first is at 4:30 am. The second is nearly an hour later. I'm two completely different people during each walk. The first is the grateful stroll. I listen to the atmosphere of the forest with the owls, the full moon with all it's shadows and anything else that wants to be seen in darkness. It's my way of saying "I'm mindful of this moment." The second walk takes on a little more serious tone. I call it my Intention Walk. I must look like a crazy fool talking out loud, "My intention today is to reach people. My intention today is to create better than I did yesterday. My intention today is to help someone locate success." It sets up the mindset before entering the studio to record. On this podcast I go extremely deep on where the majority of us are in this thing called 2018. We aren't anywhere near where we're supposed to be. Sadly, we've allowed it to happen. Walk out into a forest or a park and put your fingers in the soil. What do you feel? The dampness from a storm that's passed? The roots of another living thing? If you were to look beneath the surface you'd see seeds. Lots of seeds. Your mind body and soul are no different. Inside of you are seeds. You're endlessly dropping off dreams, wishes and ambitions. They fall to your forest floor and just lay there. They need to be cultivated. Your soil needs to have activation. Take that Intention Walk and tell yourself, "My intention today is to grow forward."

Laci Green

Listen to "Laci Green Releases Sex Plus Learning Loving and Enjoying Your Body" on Spreaker. Let’s be honest: most of us think about sex A LOT, and we have plenty of unanswered questions. Laci brings her signature style and voice to a comprehensive book for teens and adults about the multitude of issues and concerns that go along with sexuality: anatomy, consent, LGBTQ issues, STI and pregnancy prevention, healthy relationships, myth-busting, and more. SEX PLUSis the first book of its kind: empowering, sex-positive, comprehensive, honest, and vetted by a range of medical experts. Laci Green is known to millions of fans through her YouTube channel SEX PLUS, which has garnered more than 150 million video views and 1.49 million subscribers in over 190 countries. Laci has built her platform on teaching her viewer all about sexuality, health issues, and sexual empowerment by answering sex-related questions frankly, nonjudgmentally, and hilariously. TIME magazine hailed her as the millennial Dr. Ruth and named her “One of the 30 most Influential People on the Internet.” Laci has also created content and hosted online sex education content on behalf of Planned Parenthood and Discovery News, and won a Streamy Award in 2016 for Science or Education. In 2017, she celebrated her tenth anniversary on YouTube. Some of the questions Laci tackles in her new book: What’s the best way to talk to my partner about what I want? How do I figure out my sexuality? How do I have sex safely? What does an orgasm actually feel like? Catch Up with Laci Green and Have Your Questions Ready.

Blackberry Smoke

Listen to "Charlie Starr From Blackberry Smoke" on Spreaker. Songs on "Find A Light" hew toward easygoing roots-rock (“Run Away From It All”) and Southern rock stomps (“The Crooked Kind”), as well as stripped-down acoustic numbers (“I’ve Got This Song”) and bruising alt-country (“Nobody Gives A Damn”). Rich instrumental flourishes—keening fiddle, solemn organ and bar-band piano boogie—add further depth and resonance. “That’s one of my favorite things about Blackberry Smoke albums—there’s a lot of variety,” Starr says. “My favorite albums through the years are built that way, too. I love a record that keeps you guessing. I love the fact that our records are sort of a ride, with different types of songs and different vibes.”

The Lyrics From Billy's Forest Chapter 126

Listen to "The Lyrics From Billys Forest Chapter 126" on Spreaker. How often do you go back into your social media posts? It says a lot about how you express. At times I feel like I'm a magnet to everybody's bad day, mood or misunderstanding. It's like an old episode of Batman. Boom! Pow! Biff! That's not the subject of this podcast. Today it's having the courage to go back into what we've written and see how we've grown from those unfiltered moments. I'm a daily journal writer. To be in the presence of 24 years of dug in deep written words is a journey, a task, a misguided step and everything else that unfolded. Here's the thing. What we deliver by way of written word can easily be used as a future tool. It's what we felt in the moment. Do you still agree with what was shared? In my early years of writing I was a hidden speaker. I never let my true heart hang out there. It was a fear of someone reading the material. I came up with my own language. In going back to read it the message is very clear. I'm weird. In Chapter 126 the writer openly talks about how he's not returning to those hidden speak ways. The only reason why he brings it up is because since May of 2016 the written thoughts have evolved from dark thoughts to enlightened structures. In an everyday world someone who is inspired by the song of the bird is quickly labeled of being a hider or up to something. In essence I'm calling myself out. I do so by reminding the writer and creative mind that I have a separate area for the darker moments where I can be brutally honest. The only reason why it's not in the daily journal is because I write at 5 in the morning. It's not healthy to begin a new path with a matchstick.

Rob Dyrdek

Listen to "Rob Dyrdek From MTV's Ridiculousness" on Spreaker. Ridiculousness is the crazy clip show that won’t let you look away! When it comes to over-the-top viral videos, the more provocative and absurd, the better! Host Rob Dyrdek returns with Chanel West Coast and Steelo Brim to dissect the internet’s most zany, and unbelievable videos. Special guests this season include Olympic athletes Adam Rippon, Chloe Kim and Laurie Hernandez, pop-rap duo Jack & Jack, Wild ‘N Out star Justina Valentina and more.

KK Downing

Listen to "KK Downing From Judas Priest Releases Heavy Duty" on Spreaker. Judas Priest formed in the industrial city of Birmingham, England, in 1969. With its distinctive twin-guitar sound, studs-and-leather image, and international sales of over 50 million records, Judas Priest became the archetypal heavy metal band in the 1980s. Iconic tracks like "Breaking the Law," "Living after Midnight," and "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" helped the band achieve extraordinary success, but no one from the band has stepped out to tell their or the band's story until now. As the band approaches its golden anniversary, fans will at last be able to delve backstage into the decades of shocking, hilarious, and haunting stories that surround the heavy metal institution. In Heavy Duty, guitarist K.K. Downing discusses the complex personality conflicts, the business screw-ups, the acrimonious relationship with fellow heavy metal band Iron Maiden, as well as how Judas Priest found itself at the epicenter of a storm of parental outrage that targeted heavy metal in the '80s. He also describes his role in cementing the band's trademark black leather and studs image that would not only become synonymous with the entire genre, but would also give singer Rob Halford a viable outlet by which to express his sexuality. Lastly, he recounts the life-changing moment when he looked at his bandmates on stage during a 2009 concert and thought, "This is the last show." Whatever the topic, whoever's involved, K.K. doesn't hold back.

Vinny G

Listen to "Vinny G From Jersey Shore Family Vacation" on Spreaker. The cast of Jersey Shore swore they would always do a vacation together. Five years, five kids, three marriages and who knows how many GTL (“gym, tan, laundry”) sessions later, Nicole, Jenni, Mike, Pauly D, Vinny, Angelina, Deena and Ronnie reunited for a once-in-a-lifetime vacation in a swanky house in Miami Beach last year. Now, in season two, the gang heads to Las Vegas and parties their way through Sin City before returning to the East Coast. Back home, the friends settle in for an extended summer stay at the Shore. All the chaos, drama and partying takes place on Jersey Shore Family Vacation: Part 2 Thursday nights on MTV. On September 18, speak with the one and only Vinny Guadagnino. An original Jersey Shore cast member, Vinny gained a reputation as the “nice guy” on the show. The self-professed “Momma’s boy” gained a large fan-base for his honest straightforward manner and strong Italian roots. He also is the self-proclaimed “keto guido” and promotes the keto diet and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Vinny can discuss what life is like for the gang, what viewers can expect this season on Jersey Shore Family Vacation: Part 2.

Robert Rand

Listen to "Robert Rand Release The Menendez Murders" on Spreaker. Discover the definitive book on the Menendez case-and the source material for NBC's Law and Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders A successful entertainment executive making $2 million a year. His former beauty queen wife. Their two sons on the fast track to success. Until tragedy struck. Married for twenty-six years, José and Kitty Menendez appeared to be a happy couple and proud parents. Twenty-one-year-old Lyle Menendez was enrolled at Princeton where he was a star on the tennis team. Eighteen-year-old Erik Menendez had just graduated from Beverly Hills High and was about to start college at UCLA. The Menendezes appeared to be living the American dream. But it was all a façade. The Menendez saga has captivated and fascinated people since 1989. The killing of José and Kitty Menendez on a quiet Sunday evening in Beverly Hills didn't make the cover of People magazine until the arrest of their sons seven months after the murders, and the case developed an intense cult following. When the first Menendez trial began in July 1993, the public was convinced that Lyle and Erik- "the boys," as they would become known-were a pair of greedy rich kids who had killed loving, devoted parents. But the real story remained buried beneath years of dark secrets. Until now. Journalist Robert Rand, who originally reported on the case for the Miami Herald and Playboy, has followed the Menendez murders from the beginning and has continued investigating and interviewing important sources for 28 years. Rand is the only reporter who covered the original investigation as well as both trials. With unprecedented access to the Menendez family and its history, including interviews with both brothers before and after their arrest, Rand has uncovered extraordinary details that certainly would have changed the fate of the brothers' first-degree murder conviction and sentencing to life without parole. In The Menendez Murders: The Shocking Inside Story of an American Tragedy, Rand shares these intimate, never-before-revealed findings for the first time, including a deeply disturbing history of child abuse and sexual molestation in the Menendez family going back generations, and the shocking admission O.J. Simpson made to one of the Menendez brothers when they were inmates at the LA County Mens Jail.

His Place And Space

Listen to "His Place And Space" on Spreaker. How did we arrive in this place where your space means nothing to other people? I don't remember my father speaking of co-workers or passerby's disrespecting his process of delivery. He always told me to do the job then go home. This is a tough blog to write because it's not a negative but rather an open door for all levels of respect by way of taking note of the space taken. Authority is an earned honor. In martial arts we bow to our Master to showcase respect. The workplace is no different. Always respect. On this podcast I share the story of a preacher laying his Bible on my computer keyboard. The very board that was controlling the music playing through fairly large speakers. Very politely I asked that he move the great book because I feared the Devil was about to break out and the cause would create an effect. I lifted the book three times and each time he placed it back on the computer keyboard. I finally removed the book and placed it on a table behind me. How dare I right? I mean it was the big book! Instantly I began to think about the preachers pulpit. If I had walked up those stairs to his area of worship and placed a Pepsi can near his message how would he have reacted? Not once but three times. We've become a really oddly shaped nation of doers. It's getting tougher to locate people that respect not only your space but time. Developing a great relationship and working environment needs to be fed by a river of openness. I believe the preacher should've asked "May I place this on your computer keyboard?" I would've suggested that it's not a good place because you know how computers act and react when too many keys are forced inward. The lesson learned is more about the awareness of how higher level people still don't see themselves as us. The only way to grow from this is to know through our changes that we don't evolve into them. Be in your moment while being respectful of all levels of people and challenge.

All That Is... Is

Listen to "All That Is Is" on Spreaker. The title says a lot. All that is... Is. How we got to this moment required a story. A journey. A trail of challenges and changes and in this moment of now it seems our history is what we post on social media. I took in the movie Life Itself. No spoilers here. It's about connection, relationship and the lack thereof. It's pretty much a movie about now. Native American spirituality has taught me that what we are doing in this moment will affect the next seven generations. That's a lot of pressure to put into your day. Look at how music has become part of so many young lives. They love Sinatra, The Stones Zeppelin straight up to P Diddy. How many generations has Pop Music infected? Same is true about actions and reactions. On this Podcast we dive into that single thought "All that is... Is."

The Continuation Of Flow

Listen to "The Continuation Of Flow" on Spreaker. I've always been attracted to things locked on moving forward. As a child I'd spend hours in the garden watching the water from the hose push direct down little ditches I created to study it's behavior with all that surrounded it. Life is no different. The problem isn't the cost of the flow in our chapters not yet written but rather the dams we build to keep us from moving forward and outward. On today's podcast I talk openly about how many people I talk with that are extremely disappointed with how their careers have played out. There are a lot of middle aged people still trying to grip the reins of a dream come true. The idea of becoming part of a career has ended up being a series of party time positions. What's keeping you from flow? Fear? Doubt? The lack of acceptance? We've become the generation that dumps friends so often that it's no longer important to build a relationship. That includes you understanding you. We're addicted to feeding our outside needs and not putting love trust and support into the mind body and soul that's been with us since birth. Putting flow in your life is a task. It's a journey. A willing heart and way can't be stopped by a past that won't change. I get it! Those were the good ole days! To which I say "When you go back remember you can't take technology with you." Living in your past without the comforts of today's modern world won't gift your walk with happier times. Invest in today. Let your moments of now be the walk in forward motion

The Lyrics From Billy's Forest Chapter 125

Listen to "The Lyrics From Billys Forest Chapter 125" on Spreaker. I sat in my forest in south Charlotte, NC as Tropical Storm Florence made her way across our lay of land. As the rain began to fall I listened to it's pleasant voice as it fell between the leaves still attached to the trees. I guess you can me a true tree hugger. It's more than that. I've written in this forest since 1994. A lot of thoughts and word shapes were put into play because of an energy within its presence. So to sit with the forest while a monster storm began it's journey through our present place was no different than sitting with a friend. I saw the deer with their young. Two fawns bouncing around like nothing was happening. I watched the birds dance in the strong gusts of wind. They had no reason to rush off to the store to purchase everything off the shelf. I stared at the long grass that so many around me would call weeds. They seemed to be waving as the wind threw everything at them. The creek was still dry. I knew that would change. It did on day two of the storms growth. I studied it's strength while being aware of the trees. Weather men said they would fall. I didn't lose one during the storm. Just sitting with a friend. Offering a little support to something that's not human. Then again... During your own personal storms with no way to predict the final page... Do you ever sit with yourself and just listen?

Interpretation

Listen to "Interpretation" on Spreaker. I often wonder how much damage we've done to ourselves accepting interpretation. The artist paints a blue fish and a passerby strolls by calling it an elephant without a trunk. The artist accepts the interpretation from the passerby. No! That's giving too much permission to someone that wasn't part of the journey. The moment we're allowed to accept interpretations as being a point of acceptance, that's when we begin interpreting our own acts and reactions. We get lost in the art of the self we were in 1985 only to spend the rest of our lives wanting to be them again. You can't. It's not real. Sure you lived it but your mind body and soul have forgotten valuable pieces of that full puzzle and going back to suck in the moment because you assumed it was right makes it all wrong. Many careers are dropped off the map because of the way we interpret a present situation. Instead of sitting down with the present maker of all that's unveiled, we allow ourselves to stand on the outside and pull in whatever we see is the path before we make a choice. We're sleepless at night not because it's human to get only so much sleep. Our imaginations are locked on trying to interpret what we feel is the situation. Stepping back to see what's on track is a tough cookie. Gaining access to who you presently are is a wall of judgement with no excuses to help forgive. So into the past we leap or we play a game of lets pretend. Tell me how many of those stories are being written via social media. Be more aware of what you share. The moment you begin to interpret you, a friend or family member you need to stop on the path and get into the present. Get the full picture. Assumption is an addiction.

Simon McDermott

Listen to "Simon McDermott Releases Songaminute Man" on Spreaker. Music makes the world better! Eighty-year-old Ted McDermott, a lifelong musician, enjoyed a long career as an entertainer before his Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2013. After the disease took its toll on Ted's relationship with his family, memory and mood, his son Simon found a unique way for them to connect again: carpool karaoke! Simon filmed the pair's joyful singing and the video, ‘Quando Quando Quando – Teddy Mac,’ went viral, garnering sixty million views and touching people's hearts around the world. Simon McDermott grew up around music. His father, singer Teddy Mac, loves it so throughly that his sheer volume of song knowledge has bourne him the nickname: the Songaminute Man. Then Ted’s alzheimer's diagnosis changed everything. Through the power of music, Simon and Ted McDermott were able to bridge the distance the disease wrought between them, and rediscover their old relationship. The Songaminute Man is Simon McDermott’s tribute to his father, from the man he grew up knowing, to the person he adores now. Eighty-year-old Ted McDermott, a lifelong musician, enjoyed a long career as an entertainer before his Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2013. After the disease took its toll on Ted's relationship with his family, memory and mood, his son Simon found a unique way for them to connect again: carpool karaoke. Simon filmed the pair's joyful singing and the video, ‘Quando Quando Quando – Teddy Mac,’ went viral, garnering sixty million views and touching people's hearts around the world. Charting Ted’s incredible life against the backdrop of 1940s Britain to the present day, McDermott brings his father’s extraordinary story to life. From his beginnings as the eldest of fourteen children, as a factory worker struggling to make himself known as a singer, as a Butlin’s Redcoat, a husband, a father, and now an Alzheimer's patient, Ted never gave up on his dream of being a professional singer. Simon and Ted show that hope can appear even in the most hopeless of times. The Songaminute Man is a beautiful memoir about the pull of the past, the effects of a devastating disease, and the transcendent power of hope and positivity.

Traci Braxton

Listen to "Traci Braxton From Braxton Family Values" on Spreaker. Traci Renee Braxton, the third child born to Michael and Evelyn. can be seen on WEtv’s Thursday evening hit show "BRAXTON FAMILY VALUES" with sisters Toni, Towanda, Trina, Tamar and brother Michael. Traci released her well-received debut album, Crash and Burn, in 2014. She’s readying the release of her sophomore album, “Traci Braxton: On Earth” this summer. Traci has a new found excitement for fitness, healthy living, motorcycle riding and being a motivational speaker to charities & non-profit organizations for females around the world including the Pulmonary Heart Association and Susan G. Komen Foundation, just to name a few. Traci has appeared as a co-host on many TV shows including the Emmy-award winning talk show The Real and TV One’s Sister Circle. Traci has launched her own whiskey brand, Black Cowboy, and continues to grow her empire as an entrepeneur and businesswoman. Traci continues to raise the bar and sky’s the limit.

Mario Van Peebles

Listen to "Mario Van Peebles From Armed" on Spreaker. Mario Van Peebles believes there are three loves in your career: Love what you do, enjoy whom you do it with, and be passionate about what you say with it. Throughout his career, Van Peebles has often managed to do just that. From his first breakout hit NEW JACK CITY, to his most recent retelling of the historical ROOTS series, and his upcoming thriller ARMED Van Peebles has brought challenging, compelling material to the screen. A graduate of Columbia University with a B.A. in Economics and recipient of an honorary doctorate from Hofstra University, Van Peebles worked for two years for New York's Department of Environmental Protection before moving to Hollywood to act, write, and direct. His theatrical directing debut was the urban gangster hit NEW JACK CITY, which became Warner Brothers' most profitable movie of 1991. Van Peebles followed up by starring and directing his multi-cultural western, POSSE. Mario then directed and produced PANTHER, while his father Melvin wrote and co-produced. PANTHER is the explosive story of the Black Panther Party's rise to power. The film became a political classic, earning both controversy and awards, including the Locarno Film Festival's Silver Leopard award. Van Peebles received critical acclaim for his portrayal of political icon Malcolm X alongside Will Smith in Michael Mann's ALI. Mario followed up with BAADASSSSS! The odyssey about the making of his father's groundbreaking film SWEET SWEETBACK'S BAADASSSSS SONG. Mario produced, wrote, directed and starred as his filmmaker father doing the very same thing in 1971. "It was psychotherapy on celluloid" remarks Van Peebles. The film garnered strong critical acclaim including being one of Ebert and Roper's ten best movies of the year for 2004. For three generations filmmaking has been a Van Peebles family affair. Mario got to team up with his kids to create the edgy coming of age film, WE THE PARTY. In addition to directing and acting in features, Van Peebles is passionate about supporting education and eco-consciousness through media. His reality show, MARIO'S GREEN HOUSE, chronicled the Van Peebles family's often-humorous attempts to raise their eco-consciousness as they tried to go green in Hollywood. "We never got to the full green, more like Olive green," jokes Van Peebles. With his edu-tainment short BRING YOUR "A" GAME, Van Peebles encourages young brothers to resist the pop culture of anti-intellectualism and educate themselves beyond conventional academics. His documentary FAIR GAME?, explores such topics as the prison industrial complex as a form of modern day slavery, and eco-apartheid. In 2017 Mario co-created, wrote, directed, and starred in the 'Netflix' Syfy series SUPERSTITION. He next completed production on his upcoming feature film ARMED which he also wrote, directed, and starred opposite Ryan Guzman, William Fichtner, Jemma Dallender, Dionne Warwick, Melvin Van Peebles, and Van Jones. When not doing features, Van Peebles directs and sometimes acts in award-winning shows such as BLOODLINE, BOSS, DAMAGES, LOST, HAND OF GOD, and EMPIRE.

Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson

Listen to "Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson From The Dawn Wall" on Spreaker. In January, 2015, American rock climbers Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson captivated the world with their effort to climb The Dawn Wall, a seemingly impossible 3,000 foot rock face in Yosemite National Park, California. The pair lived on the sheer vertical cliff for weeks, igniting a frenzy of global media attention. But for Tommy Caldwell, The Dawn Wall was much more than just a climb. It was the culmination of a lifetime defined by overcoming obstacles. At the age of 22, the climbing prodigy was taken hostage by rebels in Kyrgyzstan. Shortly after, he lost his index finger in an accident, but resolved to come back stronger. When his marriage fell apart, he escaped the pain by fixating on the extraordinary goal of free climbing The Dawn Wall. Blurring the line between dedication and obsession, Caldwell and his partner Jorgeson spend six years meticulously plotting and practicing their route. On the final attempt, with the world watching, Caldwell is faced with a moment of truth. Should he abandon his partner to fulfill his ultimate dream, or risk his own success for the sake of their friendship?

Allow It To Have Life

Listen to "Allow It To Have Life" on Spreaker. Paging through my daily writing, expressions put down in May of 2016. I was forced to take a second and third glance at what was in front of me. Being on the outside of the thoughts, I found it to be oddly shaped by the honesty and courage of being in such a mental state. He was coming across as being spiritually grateful to the point of hiding nothing. As Christians we talk a pretty good game. We don't need to know the verses to be part of the winning circle. We are called to lead by the word not only in privacy but public. Not such an easy task for most. I wasn't shocked about what was written over two years ago. I was actually amazed at how I don't remember taking the writing to a less bitch and complain state of release to an all out conversation with God. From those open moments I'm grounded. The whereabouts of how and why sit in front of me via these daily writings. On this podcast the writer speaks of words. It's our choice to use them, listen to them and physically relocate them during a different time and mindset. Admitting that we're all nothing more than a breath of air, a very small moment and barely a pinch of sugar... We should be aware of how we use our words as they make their way through and toward seven generations.

I Have No Weight

Listen to "I Have No Weight" on Spreaker. Losing weight and staying in shape has always been part of our path of choices. It's hard work to keep ourselves away from all that adds things to our hips, thighs and behind. Interestingly enough there's not much said about the weight held tightly in our heart. It's not that it's invisible. People's emotions are easily read in the shades painted on their face. Stress, fear, shame, guilt and other people's greed are tossed inside the assumed incinerator. Except all of that weight doesn't burn away. It's horded in caverns created by sadness, angst and whatever other emotion that's willing to admit it's part of this present place. On this podcast I talk about a very dark hole that had trapped the center of my soul in an unfulfilled presence that honestly had no future yet it gripped me tighter than a mother fighting to keep their child from falling off the cliff. Then I heard in my heart "You have no weight. Turn the page." What's that supposed to mean? I have no weight? Stepping on the scale I quickly found that statement not to be true. I had weight. As in body mass but not inside the once captured heart. I heard "You have no weight. Turn the page." Inside that moment I realized the sound of a page being turned has the most unique appeal to a wandering mind. Try it sometime. Turn the page. Now tell yourself, "I have no weight." Amazing is the freedom you feel. With no weight you're no longer clogged up with yesterday's mistake. No weight means new beginnings and the energy to achieve. I have no weight. Turn the page. Don't just say it. Activate it.

The Lyrics From Billy's Forest Chapter 124

Listen to "The Lyrics From Billys Forest Chapter 124" on Spreaker. Magnifying the image of where courage and strength come from is a very difficult subject for many to openly discuss. I know a lot of people that try to laugh off the compliment, "You know how it is. You stick to something you like and eventually it pays off." On today's podcast the Poet in the Forest has no fear of sharing his heart in the way of making sure that his relationship with the Greater Power is personalized and should never be bragged about. Only to see the closing thoughts echo this vision, "You want me to write then talk about it. Aren't you asking for a lot?" Ouch! Does it seem over confident and self driven? Looking beyond the matter and situation the truer path exposes a newer way to grow by way of sharing without having to say, "I am! I am! I am!"

Getting Prepared

Listen to "Getting Prepared" on Spreaker. As Hurricane Florence continues to gain in strength off the coast of Carolina, I'm reminded of the enormous amount of time I've spent preparing for events that didn't go as planned. Being in radio all these years shaped my thinking patterns of always being ready. No break goes on the air without it being written or planned out. I've never been a winger. So, the let down has always been what causes so much fear. Pretty much our entire lives we've heard, "If you build it they will come." In the major of all cases that statement is false. How many small businesses do we see closing their doors after only a few moments of what if? We invest a lot of drive, passion, loyalty and dedication into visions that feel like this is the moment. This isn't a Debbie Downer podcast. On today's show I openly talk about how preparing to be let down has become our bad habit. We go into projects convincing ourselves that something isn't going to work. We believe it will help soften the let down. You can't grow like that. I compare it to the second coming of Christ. While communities gather to greet the Great Creator, I'd be behind the massive amount of people rushing to prepare even more than what I have. We are addicted to being prepared. My mother endlessly warned her three boys to always change our underwear because if we're put in the hospital the doctors won't think badly. That's why my biggest dream in life is to one day be rich enough to wear brand new underwear everyday with a clean pair of brand new socks. How do you prepare for Hurricane Florence? Make not only yourself aware of the situation but loved ones outside the winds. We've been through a lot in the past ten years. Nobody wants one of these things knocking on their door. Companies bank on us being over prepared. Don't allow the letdown become your new battleground.

Lisa Ingber

Listen to "Lisa Ingber Unleashed" on Spreaker. She says's she's been hit by a car not once but twice. Forget about her upbringing. Did one actually take place? Yet Lisa Ingber is finding every reason to create laughs. Most would've checked out. Not Lisa! She's having a blast cheering up crowds from New York to LA. We dig in deep during our conversation, comparing notes on each other's stages. She's upfront and honest. Inspiring as well as filled with a laugh that you'll instantly become addicted to.

Catherine Lopez Dolan

Listen to "Catherine Lopez Dolan Releases Not So Sexy Truth" on Spreaker. Author Catherine Dolan Takes on the Truth About Women and Men in the Workplace with Debut Book Motivational Press releases Dolan’s debut book about sexual harassment in the pharmaceutical industry this September 2018 CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 14, 2018 – Catherine Dolan is gutsy and bold; charming, respectful and polite. All these qualities secured her professional success in the pharmaceutical industry. With over fifteen years in pharmaceutical sales, Dolan is a nationally-recognized sales leader in her field, celebrated for delivering consistently high-level and quality results. And yet, with all that success, there have been aspects of the coveted professional position in big pharma that she wasn’t expecting. We’re talking both blatant and subtle, always awkward and uncomfortable sexual harassment and sexual advances made both privately and publicly. Which leads us to one of Dolan’s greatest qualities – her candor and authenticity. She’s not afraid to be right- between-the-eyes honest about it all. In The Not So Sexy Truth About Women and Men in the Workplace (Motivational Press, September 12, 2018, paperback, $19.95), Dolan shares her personal and professional story managing sexual harassment in the workplace. She shares it all not as gossip, but as objective, public information as well as timely and easy- to-implement advice to deal with it. She encourages men and women to educate themselves, and, in turn, feel empowered to make in-the-moment decisions that allow them to stand up for themselves – and keep thriving in their respective careers. She willingly takes on the modern crisis of sexual harassment in the workplace all while giving empowering perspective on how to identify if you’re in that situation – and how to rise above it powerfully. Dolan is real, admitting she didn’t always play it strategically-right with several men she discusses candidly in the book; but, if anything, she learned timeless, important lessons about men, women, and herself that she now shares with the world. Available for pre-order next month, The Not So Sexy Truth About Women and Men in the Workplace is an important read for today’s professional who is hungry for success – and not willing to let anything get in his or her way, especially someone else’s sexual advances or harassment.

Picking Up Breadcrumbs

Listen to "Picking Up Bread Crumbs" on Spreaker. Those moments. We all hold them. The attempt to toss them to the side is always present. Then one day you arrive in the very place you once stood. What did you learn? How can it be taught? Carefully placed in the center of your adventure are everyday seeds. Rather than ask questions about the shape of a present storm, we do all we can to get out of the rain. On this podcast I go back over two years into my daily writing to fall witness to a growing season. The budding moments. Not in the name of victory but rather the furthering of study. Being a daily writer is truly nothing more than dropping itty bitty chunks of bread onto an invisible path of hope. Too often we think a timid squirrel has come along and taken away what we require in order to find our way back. Writing gives me the blessed opportunity to move forward to locate your past. An oxymoron? How do you move forward to your past? Mindfully I live in the present. The now. Now is all we truly own. How we arrived serves as a reminder to remain whole. Grateful doesn't just happen. Being transparent with others is a beautiful place to walk. But are you being just as truthful to the self you're carrying forward? It doesn't take too much to convince the selves we are to step a little to the left. Eventually the invisible path looks nothing like you envisioned. Moving forward to your past.

From Focal To Vocal

Listen to "From Focal To Vocal" on Spreaker. Growing up in Montana meant we got to plant a lot of seeds in the ground. I was always fascinated with the potato. It didn't come from seeds. It was a continuation of once being. We'd let a bag of those oddly shaped monsters sit in the garage and things would grow from their sides. Dad would take out his knife and cut out what he called the eye. Then we'd put it in the soil. Through careful gardening we'd come back at the end of summer and there'd be 5 to 15 potatoes in very place my father put that eye. He went from focal to vocal. He envisioned a successful harvest and made sure it was a success. We had bags of potatoes that would last through the Montana winter. Focal to vocal. Your career, friendships, religion and or just you being you. Placed in your garden everyday are new ideas and thoughts. How many seeds make it to the soil? I wrote this morning in my daily journals about trust. We think we've got it mastered. Then I asked, "But how do we get to it?" Not trusting others but trusting yourself to plant those seeds and nurture that soil. Not for a week or whenever you're in the mood but daily. Focal to vocal has a tremendous payoff. The investment of time and energy is why so many run away. On this podcast I openly talk about my transition or transformation to take my spiritual walk from focal to vocal. I begin by asking why I didn't have a paper and pen after taking my first fall while trying to walk. First love, new job, questions about new challenges. The opportunity to hold the seeds are there but it's going to require an activation from the heart to realize how the eye of a potato can grow into 5 to 15 in a matter of months. It's time to move your adventure from focal to vocal.

The Lyrics From Billy's Forest Chapter 123

Listen to "The Lyrics From Billys Forest Chapter 123" on Spreaker. I sat writing in the forest. On this particular day there seemed to be less birds. It looked as if the sun was dimmer then usual. I wasn't moved but rather bothered. It was the center of summer and the forest usually doesn't locate calm until the leaves begin to fall. Then it occurred to me. This must be what peaceful sounds like. In this age of so many sights and sounds we've lost our way. We assume peaceful is on a digital device or it's making sure we're always busy at work or throwing down a serious weekend party with the neighbors. Peaceful can actually be a moment of complete nothingness. On this podcast I talk about the struggles of not only locating peaceful arrivals and departures but my heart takes note of jotted down thoughts from today's daily writing. I speak of the sun and how it likes to skate across the sky. Then my writing instrument wrote this next thought: The sun doesn't move. The planets do. God doesn't move. People do. Peaceful is always in the same place.

Tom Papa

Listen to "Tom Papa From Food Network's Baked" on Spreaker. When carb-loving comedian Tom Papa isn’t doing stand-up, he is probably eating, thinking about or making bread (his specialty is sourdough), and he takes his passion for baked goods to the next level in his new series Baked. In his mission to find the country’s best breads and pastries, Tom hits cities from coast to coast to shine a light on how local bakeries make life a little sweeter. He kicks the series off in New York City, where he devours glazed donuts covered in everything bagel topping, takes a master class in old world baking and discovers the bready, eggy, cheesy dish khachapuri. Tom then heads to Detroit, Boston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New Orleans, New Jersey and Cleveland in subsequent episodes. With more than 20 years as a stand-up comedian, Tom Papa is one of the top comedic voices in the country finding success in film, TV, radio and podcasts as well as on the live stage. Tom is the new Head Writer and regular performer on the nationally syndicated radio show, Live From Here, the newest incarnation of the legendary radio show, A Prairie Home Companion. Tom is featured on the show in his own regular segment, Out. In. America. With Tom Papa, heard by the 2.6 million fans of the weekly radio show. In 2019, Tom will be seen in Rob Zombie’s film, 3 From Hell, the sequel to The Devil’s Rejects.

Michele Weaver and Will Catlett

Listen to "Michele Weaver and Will Catlett From Love Is On OWN" on Spreaker. Love Is__ is a one hour new and original scripted romantic drama. It is inspired by the real-life love story of executive producers Mara Brock Akil (Being Mary Jane, Girlfriends) and Salim Akil (Black Lightning). Love Is__ revives the classic 1990’s romantic comedy, complete with a sweet nostalgia for the decade including the iconic fashion, music, and stars like Kadeem Hardison and Loretta Devine. The series follows Nuri (Weaver) and Yasir (Catlett), a couple from seemingly opposite worlds, as they chase their dreams and learn to follow their hearts. Told from the perspective of the couple’s present-day selves. Love Is__ is presented as one big, epic story with the pacing of a feature film. On the big screen, Weaver most recently shot the thriller Nighthawks, with Chace Crawford. She also starred in Illicit, with Vivica A. Fox; Sister Code, with Amber Rose, Drew Sidora, and Eva Marcille; and Syfy’s 2 Lava 2 Lantula! Her other television credits include ABC Family’s Switched at Birth and FOX’s Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life, among many others. Most recently, Catlett appeared as a recurring guest star on Black Lightning for The CW Network. Prior to that, Catlett also appeared in CBS’s The Mentalist, HBO’s Insecure and Brothers in Atlanta. Catlett gained popularity in lead roles on the streaming YouTube series First, and That Guy. Behind the camera, he has lent his talents to Giants for Issa Rae Presents, the feature film Griffin, the brilliant short film Stages in which he also stars, and the television series Garden Hills.

The Narrator

Listen to "The Narrator" on Spreaker. The majority of us struggle with sleepless nights. It seems too easy to pop a pill and it's an automatic six to eight hours. It's not falling a sleep that I have a problem with. It's staying a sleep. Not an adult problem. A lifelong issue. I got into radio because of the enormous amount of hours I spent slowly scanning that AM radio dial searching for out of town towers in huge cities across the nation. I was inspired by the Pied Pipers of late night broadcasting. Now I'm tired of wanting to be awake at night. Mainly because it's colliding with my real passion which is waking up at 4:30 am to get the day started. Over the past six months I've put a lot of love and attention into Yoga Nidra. It's the art of releasing energy without going all out crazy. It's a method of relaxation that requires you or someone next to you to peacefully speak the journey of letting go. Now go a little deeper. Relax. Honestly, it's been a brilliant tool! Until recently when I took note of the number of times I was still waking up. The sleep or rest is beyond explanation but it doesn't last long. The narrator has become judgmental "Oh this isn't a good vision or dream. Time to leave." It has the strength to invite me into moments of rest as well as pull me out. In doing research I've located nothing about how to get control of the narrators at night. It's not necessarily the typical voices we hear in our heads but a trusting narrator that thinks its got your back. Getting by the narrator has been a struggle in that you don't want to brush away something that's been working. Learning to be aware of what is your narrator and asking in peace that it leave your present place of resting does calm down the judgement. Yes, Yoga Nidra dreams or visions are very powerful. The narrator does act like a rope to pull you free from something that feels so real. It shouldn't control the atmosphere of rest. It's the little things like this the big books of Yoga never put focus on. Learning as you grow should always be your purpose of progress. Mindfully we are grateful of the moment.