Stream Thinking: First World Covid Problems

Listen to "Stream Thinking First World Covid Problems" on Spreaker. May 11, 2021 The daily writing exercise is called Stream Thinking. Being present in all things right now. No judgement, no perfectionisms, raw writing by way of documenting all things right now. I was recently introduced to a new term: First World Covid Problems. A great example is how we feel that being back to normal is about removing the walls designed to protect clients and guests from the potential of there being a Covid crisis. Oh I’ve got CFWP! My local CVS pharmacy. Why do they feel it’s in our best interest that they steer clear of opening until 10am? I don’t go into the store. I get my meds from the pickup window. I have a first world Covid problem because of how my essential job has marched forward with back to normal hours 6am til 11pm. I don’t get it. We’re still being forced to walk in a pair of shoes that don’t fit. First World Covid Problems. You know what I’ve seen increase. The sale of lottery tickets. Never once has someone been upset about not winning. I get the usual shrugging of the shoulders with “Oh well. I guess not today.” I gambled this morning on CVS being open by 9. But I didn’t get upset. Nope. I’ve learned a lot from my lottery ticket friends. Especially those whose homes are on the street. Raise your hand if you think the money they collect on street is going into alcohol and drugs. Lottery tickets! A 50 cent investment has earned many $20 to $50. The scratch offs are paying out hundreds of dollars. While I’m complaining about CVS opening at 10, my friends from the street are cashing in. And when it doesn’t happen. It rolls right off their shoulders.

Unplugged and Totally Uncut May 7th

Today! Friday May 7th on Uplugged and Totally Uncut!!! Lala Kent has left her mark on realty television viewing by way of Vanderpump Rules. Her first book isn't an autobiography but rather an extension to her very open walk through life. 11am post https://www.spreaker.com/episode/44679216 Devan Blake Jones has always loved singing and committed to pursuing music after graduating high school. He got hired to sing in an Afrobeat band and took on the task of teaching himself to sing in Swahili. For the next 17 years, Devan continued his passion for music by performing in a wedding band and at various community events. It opened the door for him to be on NBC's The Voice. 1pm post https://www.spreaker.com/episode/44680742 Four new movies make their way into our lives this weekend. Two in theaters and others on demand. But are they worth your time and presence. We're checking in with Ryan Jay as he reviews Wrath of Man, Here Today, Queen Marie Of Romania and Monster. Plus Ryan is on the road next week to host the 2021 Wizard Of Oz event in Indiana. 4pm post https://www.spreaker.com/episode/44679867 Then we're Playing It Forward with Dianne Grossman who's taken an out of control nightmare and turned it into a film that will change people's lives. Mallory's Army. 7pm post https://www.spreaker.com/episode/44681573

Been Here Before

Listen to "Been Here Before" on Spreaker. May 7, 2021 Wow. The sixth anniversary of my father’s passing. Which happens to be my brothers sixtieth birthday. Here’s how I think. I can’t help it. I just am the way that I am. My brothers tormented life as a teen and beyond. Have we lived this life before? Did he know inside his unwritten chapters that his birthday would no longer carry the celebration on the day that would become my father’s final day? They never got along. He kept running away from home. Which had a huge impact on me. To this very moment I have serious issues with commitment. Family love is supposed to be thicker than water. That’s what Andy Gibb sang in the 1970’s! Love is thicker than water. Oh my. I have out of control departure issues. Only to be placed in an area of history where it’s completely 100% OK to ghost a friend or family member on social media. You don’t like what they say or feel something isn’t right and boom pow biff bang you’re out of the Like Zone. What in our life is physically the effect of someone else’s cause? Cause and effect. The happily married word couple that’s strong enough to dent and ding any story on the planet. Cause and effect. With cancel culture that gifts the system of belief the right to dump the trunk. Don’t do that. Stop it. No matter how much you deny reality there’s always gonna be someone whose gonna call you out. My first wife lived that life. If it’s not happening now. It never did. I struggled with that. Only to learn my career in broadcasting was no different. Decision makers completely addicted to getting a different point of view and direction without wearing the patch that hollered out, “Yeah we did that! But we grew from it!” Six years after my father’s passing I feel his presence more than I did while he was here. He became Yoda. I’ve been trained to feel the force. To look into the source of energy and find only the fuel and not the dinosaur remains that created the sludge. Love is thicker than water. Ghosting is extremely damaging. Running away from home at any age is worse. What then is the message in this mess? The identity of self. If you don’t see yourself by way of cause and effect then how do you see others? Boom, pow, biff and bang. Happy birthday to my brother and Dad I don’t miss you. You’re right here with me every day. Grateful for your presence.

Unplugged and Totally Uncut May 6th

Today May 6, 2021 on Unplugged and Totally Uncut!!! David Baldacci is back! His new book deals with a vet that's working his way back to American streets in the 1950's. A Gambling Man. Darkness, action, emotion and everything else that Baldacci is brilliant at. 11am post https://www.spreaker.com/episode/44659817 I asked Christo Kidwell what the name of his band is all about, "Why Texas Taliban?" His reply, "Cuz it pisses people off." Awesome!!! 1pm post https://www.spreaker.com/episode/44660004 The television show Delilah is filmed right here in Charlotte. LaMonica Garrett and I break out our local experiences while jumping into the stuff that outsiders can relate with. 4pm post https://www.spreaker.com/episode/44660267 Then we're playing it forward with Dr. Stephanie ZaZa. Her book is Beyond The Pandemic. 7pm post https://www.spreaker.com/episode/44660267

The Lyrics From Billy's Forest Chapter 245

Listen to "The Lyrics From Billys Forest Chapter 245" on Spreaker. May 6, 2021 It’s extremely difficult to not see the image of a mid-winters forest. Words written on February 7, 2021. The forest floor damp to wet. The trees stuck feet first in giant jars of Carolina clay. As cleared as the limbs appear, spotting the red tail hawk and very patient owl is nearly impossible. For that matter even the deer blend in perfectly. Until they move, my eyesight misses the entire photograph. As humans, we too have evolved into better hiders. To not be witnessed. Fading into a background away from judgement and ridicule. Or so it seems. Until you’re spotted creating a post on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Unlike the rest of nature, we want to belong to the attention. Own it. We aren’t wolves buried in the brush watching all things moving by. I know a few friends that act like they live under a rock. Is that the same? Where would the world be if the trees in a forest were given thumbs? Would they too take a ton of selfies? Would we find their emotions stuck to social media? The only reason why I bring any of this up is because the entire picture doesn’t resemble the sights we see. Quickly we are trying to regain normal living but the world of business is still caught in their mid-winters forest. No matter how many Help Wanted signs are posted. No matter how many emails you receive from Indeed, Monster, LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter the captured moment remains. The human race is hiding like the red tail hawk, patient owl and well blended in deer. Those working the frontline and or returning to a workplace that’s no longer remote are finding the walk to be difficult. Every day several coworkers check out or completely leave because being back is too much mentally. Who then suffers? We don’t need to paint into place the answer. You already know. We complain with the loudest voices how rough it is for children to get back into the groove of school. The push to get them back was one hell of a battle. Now that they’re returning. The adults aren’t getting back to their thing. A mid-winters forest. No leaves on the trees. The human is hiding. I often wonder about the bright red cardinal. Being so vibrant in color. Does it ever get tired of being recognized? Stop waiting for a miracle. Remove yourself from here. Your success story is over there. You’ve got to be seen and heard to achieve. Step out and collaborate in the name and image of success.

Unplugged and Totally Uncut May 4th

Today May 4, 2021 on Unplugged and Totally Uncut!!! Why didn't we have books like this when we were kids? Crispin Boyer's Top Secret teaches children and parents how to be secret spies. Plus he gives you games and challenges!!! 11am post https://www.spreaker.com/episode/44622839 It's Pod Crashing day. Time to discover a new podcast. Episode 102 puts focus on the late night emergency team in New Orleans. Holly Sherman calls it The Heroes Journey. 1pm post https://www.spreaker.com/episode/44623131 Gean Garcia was born with music in his blood. His father is a Spanish musician and inspired Gean to learn the guitar at six years old. Gean started singing to accompany his guitar playing, and decided to showcase his skills for the first time at his seventh grade talent show. After impressing his friends, Gean knew he had to continue his love for music and began songwriting. Three years ago, he got the chance to tour with his dad around the U.S., Colombia, and Mexico, which only reinforced his love for performing. Now he's on NBC's The Voice. 4pm post https://www.spreaker.com/episode/44623716 Then we're Playing It Forward with actor Michael Pare. His action packed deep dark adventure is now available on demand. Hollow Point. 7pm post https://www.spreaker.com/episode/44624095

Stream Thinking: New Age Teacher

Listen to "Stream Thinking New Age Teachers" on Spreaker. May 4, 2021 Nobody’s talking about teachers. Groups are making a lot of noise about the students. Get them back in class. But nobody’s talking about those who’ve had to change their methods of teaching by way of a computer screen. Many of whom who’ve been forced to do in school and remote teaching at the same time. How do we as a globe make up the past sixty weeks? Getting students out of a lockdown mode mentality and locked into the activation of why an education is more important today than 2019. The upper level decision makers are saying, “Summer school!” Nobody’s talking about the teachers. We must rebuild the American student. Teachers deservingly need time off to recuperate their reasons for wanting to be inside those four walls. The system is burning out the passion, dedication, drive and loyalty of those chosen to inspire and influence future business workers, leaders and community activators. Without an education, not just a nation but the entire planet suffers. Not having the knowledge to read, write and do math is a pandemic all its own. The educational system needs to change its view of who the teacher is. Experience needs to be the new teacher. Welders, grocery store managers, retail managers, plumbers, digital phone field operators, construction workers and street and highway crews. Redefine the teacher who was taught through a book and put people in there that can give students a skill. Nobody knows time management better than a driver for Amazon. Serving people at restaurants teaches people skills and team work. At 12 years old I fell deeper in love with math not because of school but because I kept score at the bowling alley. Put experience first in summer school. It’s time to teach students what being here is really all about and how they’re a huge part of its continuation.