Man Overseas Podcast

My guest is Emanuel Parris aka Coach Pow. He's a fitness expert with an impressive athletic background. Firstly, he was a 2008 Canadian Olympian sprinter. Not to mention a 2006 Commonwealth Games Bronze Medalist.That's not all—he's also a former pro drug-free bodybuilder, which means he knows what it takes to build a strong & healthy body without long-term repercussions.Today, he works as a high-performance coach in the fitness industry—sharing his knowledge & experience to help others achieve their fitness goals.I learned more about how to get and stay healthy from this episode than any other we've recorded (Coach Pow is guest number 91).We discuss dating, sex, relationships, living in Miami & Mexico. And why it's hard to find the right girl if you're an "ass man" and previously dated sprinters.Enjoy!

My guest is my brother, Scott, or as he is listed in my phone—Chico D. This is Scott's 2nd appearance on the podcast. His first followed the tragic accident that occurred just before he got home from work one evening.He noticed a kid laying in the street and immediately rushed over to see what had happened. A 5-year old boy was laying in the street after having been hit by a car. Scott immediately began CPR and saved the 5-year old boy's life. Incredible.This podcast is more relaxed. My brother and I met halfway between where we were living at the time, Baton Rouge & Houston, respectively, to play poker at the Golden Nugget.Scott has been very successful in his career as a Director of Pharmacy. Not to mention the success he's had as a family man married 21 years. He, and high school sweetheart-turned-wife, Toni, have three kids: Luke, Noah & Ella.Please enjoy our chat.

I'm always telling my coaching clients: "DO NOT SQUANDER YOUR YOUTHFUL ENERGY"Nobody has more embraced this ideal—as part of my coaching program—than today's guest.Jaekyu Lee, who goes by Jonathan, is a young man I've been working with for a little over a year. Watching someone so dedicated to his own personal growth & development has been inspiring and intrinsically rewarding [for me].His story is nothing short of awe-some. He's that 1st-generation Asian fella down the hall you've never taken the time to ask:"Hey man, what's your story?"Well, I got that opportunity when "J," as I call him, came down from Dallas a few weeks ago.We actually recorded in a professional studio, so it may sound a little better than previous episodes.Here's that story. There was a sex offender I'd gotten to know over the past several months (and liked). In fact, I liked "Jerome" (not his real name) so much that I offered to be the sales rep for his mobile car washing business.I was going to dust off the 'ole blue suit and visit high-rises where I had connections in Houston. I'd see if we could setup on the first floor of the garage. He'd be stationary at 70 years old, and it'd be much more lucrative for him.Jerome was smart, a great storyteller, and reminded me of Morgan Freeman. Not to mention the crime he committed occurred before I was born.So I wanted to help Jerome. Plus, I thought he'd be a great guest on the podcast. Such a great guest, in fact, that I rented a professional studio on the day & time we had agreed to meet.Well, Jerome "went dark" on me a few days before we were scheduled to record. I actually still haven't heard from him. And I didn't want to leave the studio's owner hanging, so I asked J if he'd want to tell his story on my podcast.He said, "Absolutely!"Although he was in town visiting friends—I challenged him to a game of pickleball at Lifetime Fitness—loser buys the winner their book of choice (we're both avid readers).After J got smoked, getting A Monk's Guide to Happiness by Gelong Thubten in the mail was like Christmas morning. You see I didn't tell him what book I wanted—I just sent him a screenshot of the Notes app from my iPhone. I've kept a running tab for years of books I plan to get to someday. So I didn't know what would show up in the mail. But this book is a gamer. Highly recommend! Thanks, J!Jonathan's not your average Asian dude down the hall. His upbringing took him all over the world, spending the first half of his life in three countries.He was born in Busan, South Korea. His dad, who worked for LG, was transferred to Jakarta, Indonesia, then Monterrey, Mexico, before they finally arrived in the States (El Paso, TX). Jonathan earned his Doctorate of Pharmacy in 2018 from the University of Houston, then completed a 2-year post-graduate residency for the US government.Today, J works for the government as a pharmacy manager, and holds down another full-time job as a Realtor at Rendon Realty, LLC(I've been there—it's no joke).J says his passion for reading & financial independence will continue to provide all the fuel he needs to accomplish his goals. He's up at 4am every morning so he can get to the gym.What's his primary goal? To become a multi-millionaire and retire by age 40 (he's 29 now).He'll do it.Jonathan's a strong advocate of self-development and passionate about helping other men awaken their true potential.Hope you enjoy listening as much as we did recording!

My guest is Benjamin Wall. He's originally from the UK, now living in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. The son of a former bank robber who was in-and-out of jail, my guest ironically had a successful career in finance, following work as a nightclub bouncer, debt collector and stripper. Nowadays, Ben supports himself day-trading, which long-time listeners will know: Me, as for me, I prefer to get rich slow. That's not to say Ben hasn't built wealth the long way—he's held long-term positions in $AAPL, $AMZN & $META, and continues to buy dips. Ben is also the co-owner & founder of a concierge service in "Playa" called Prestige Luxury Services. He's partnered with a doctor-friend of his in paradise to provide a fully-holistic approach to tourism, health and well-being—all while vacationing ('holidaying' he might say:) in PDC and surrounding areas. About the colorful life my guest has lived. Ben has resided in: Costa Rica (Manuel Antonio), South Africa (Cape Town), Thailand (Phuket), not to mention he's from the United Kingdom (Bristol). In this episode, we discuss Ben's relationship with his father, who was consistently in-and-out of jail. He says although his dad was charismatic and extremely intelligent—he was also very violent and manipulative. He says his father instilled lots of contradictory advice over the years. In fact, his dad taught him to hate those "born into money;" or those part of institutions, which of course included those in positions of authority. While most kids bond with their fathers over hunting, fishing & other sports—Ben's dad would tell stories about prison. Or getting stabbed. He'd teach Ben techniques to severely wound a man—the sort of know-how you'd probably only learn behind bars—where it's either you or the other guy headed to the great certainty. So for a long time, Ben wrestled with who he was and what he wanted to be. He tried the corporate world. Logged 15 years in finance, Even vagabonded across SE Asia and surfed the coastlines of Costa Rica. He visited Phuket, Thailand. Wait till you hear the story of how Ben managed to survive the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. When my wife & I visited Phuket, Phi Phi Islands, & Krabi in 2016—I must've watched the Youtube videos of the tsunami 15 times. It was chilling to have the opportunity to speak with someone who was in Phuket when the tsunami hit; to chat with a man who saw dead bodies floating around him. He'd see guys in board shorts looking like zombies, knowing they had nothing else to their name—no money, no wallet, no passport. Ben says he won't go back [to Thailand]. I don't think I could either. Luckily, Ben and his travel buddy managed to find a hotel that was at a high elevation. I'll let him tell you the rest of the story, which he says was the most horrifying experience of his life. Please enjoy. (By the way, I debated calling this episode: The Most Interesting Man in the World. I explain in the Intro why I didn't. But holey shmoley—this is worth a listen.)

Laurel Irwin is a wife, mother of 4, obsessed with weightlifting, which is why she is a fitness coach who specializes in global strength and body recomposition. She is insatiably curious about the psychology of motivation and the power of internal beliefs. That will become evident the more you listen to this episode. She describes people and relationships as being her currency, her measure of success & fulfillment. I would say that's unsurprising, coming from a female—that she would place so much value on people and relationships, as it's been proven time and time again that men prefer things, objects, working with their hands, that sort of thing. And women tend to veer on the side of people and relationships in their preferences. This has been demonstrated by career choice among among the sexes, even in those countries widely considered most egalitarian, such as those in Scandanavia. Laurel's says one of her deepest values is truth. I'll tell you before we get started she's one of the top 2 or 3 smartest gals I've had on the podcast. I really, really, enjoyed our conversation, which felt like a healthy debate at times, which is something we don't have enough of...in this country. I say "in this country," but it should be said—Laurel is from Canada and lives in Mexico—we recorded our podcast episode in Mexico—and I am from America. Still applies. Before I bring her on, just want to let you know that you connect with her using the social media links below. She is offering five (5) online training & nutrition coaching slots for those who might be interested. Look her up, and please enjoy our conversation.

Gerald Awak is my guest. He is an African-American fella from Houston, TX. He would tell you that his experience growing up without a father had him seeking guidance from the older men in prison. There were a lot of fights in prison. It sounds like a lot of them he initiated because it would help to make sure he maintained his own cell. That was when he wasn't in "solitary," as he refers to it. What he calls the" free world," we call solitary confinement. But Gerald got a lot smarter spending so much time behind bars. With nothing but his thoughts. He was let out of prison early for good behavior. But you know, and this isn't to take anything away from him, I heard a lot of people got out of the pen early for good behavior during COVID—I should ask him about that. He's utilized the knowledge gained from them to make a real impact now that he's out. He's determined to do something with his life. He's a rapper you can find on Spotify—he goes by G3, which stand for Good, Gone, Gangsta, which he explains in this episode.

My guest is Dr. Jessica Kind. She is a climate change scientist, entrepreneur, and NFT illustrator currently living and working in Guatemala. Back in 2015, she and a group of friends started the fossil fuel divestment movement in Switzerland because of the risks it poses for both investors and the planet. In 2011, she also searched for wind's historic directions in the deserts of Australia and enjoyed cave expeditions as part of her paleoclimatic studies. In her 40s, Dr. Kind spends most of her time studying environmental education & emotional intelligence (EQ)—she comes across as quite the student and professor of emotional intelligence. Probably because she's near infinitely intelligent with a keen insight on EQ At the time of recording, she had just finished a workshop at the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG), where she wanted her students to be curious, actively participate, and be aware of the environmental problems upon us here & now. Growing up in East Germany In this episode, Jessica says before German reunification, she grew up with her grandparents and aunt in very poor conditions. She recalls living in a multi-family home with an outhouse rather than a regular bathroom—which most of us take for granted today. At night, she would often opt to pee her pants rather than walk out in freezing temperatures to put her bare ass on a freezing seat. Hard to blame her (we men have it a little easier). They only had one room with central heating in the flat, which was like a little stove fired with coal. She says the primary reason she’s living in Guatemala now is because she can’t stand cold temperatures. Who could blame her? We also discuss how Dr. Kind became interested in climate activism. She says it started when she was around 18 years old and went to her first demonstration. She realized it’s something she would like to continue, and went to more demonstrations. By the time she started studying environmental science, she immersed herself in the topic. Over time, she admittedly became more radical in her activism. She and her radical friends decided to occupy a German coal-fired power plant, which she thinks is the most exciting thing she's done in her life so far. I knew I’d enjoy this conversation and learn a lot—how often do you get to sit with a climate scientist for 2-3 hours and discuss her life growing up behind the Iron Curtain. Hope you learn a lot too (she's also got a great personality).

Chase Lambin played professional baseball until he was 35 years old. During that span, he played a stint for Bobby Valentine in the Japanese Big Leagues with the Chiba Lotte Marines. He is a man who's had the sort of career for which movies are made. But he walks around like the beauty who doesn't know it. Could explain our long-term friendship (I like to think I'm pretty too). I kid. But for certain we married the type (that doesn't know she's beautiful). First time I met Chase in 9th grade, humility would've been the last word I'd use to describe him. Not only was he the most cocksure fella in the club on this particular Friday night—sporting a blonde mullet, yellow Polo, khaki pants & Red Wing boots, dude was gettin' after it on the dancefloor. He took no songs off. Finally, he took a break and I walked over to introduce myself. He was sweating like a woman who sells her body for money, yet still attends mass on Sunday. One thing you've gotta understand about 'high school Chase.' It didn't matter if he was in the on-deck circle talking at a pitcher, walking up to the plate talking at the pitcher (and catcher), or chirping as he passed the pitcher after the play, he was going to talk throughout the whole game. I can't say it turned me on or off. It's who he was. I thought it was his way of firing himself up, and since it mostly worked, who was I to say anything? In all my years playing (and watching) baseball, I've yet to see a more excited and animated shortstop who brung it everyday to the ballpark the way Chase did. Yet ask him today what he's most proud of during his reign in baseball—he'll tell you this: "Being a great teammate, no question." That's not a full-180, but I've forgotten most skateboard terminology. And if I called the way he changed throughout his career an "about-face," it'd be my first time using that word too. Let's just say the game changes you. Competition changes you. Camaraderie changes you. Deep slumps...I could go on. Unlike so many other guys who left the game disgruntled because they didn't get their shot in the Big Leagues, Chase has insisted it was about the journey. He expounds on his journey during his first appearance on the podcast: Becoming a Human Catalyst with Chase Lambin. Naturally, you'd think the "bestie" was a shoe-in for my first guest-spot. But no. "Alf" and the older brother from The Wonder Years, Wayne, had publicists who both wanted to know how many listeners I had. When I asked them if relatives count, twice I said "bye" to a dial-tone. Lesson learned. Bring on "the bestie." Of course he 'killed.' His passion for storytelling—rivaled by few—wouldn't have been topped by Alf or Wayne from The Wonder Years. But I had this idea I'd go for the nostalgic play right out of the gate. Same way wifey is antique shopping for the home where we plan to live a little (it's our first). Same concept. Chase's interview game is lit. Just an example, he's never wanted to prepare. Never had notes or index cards in front of him. Why? He believes speaking contemporaneously is speaking from the heart—which is the way he coaches young ballplayers. No wonder they love & respect him so much. Chase is now Bench Coach for AAA Round Rock Express in the MLB Texas Rangers organization. He has a beautiful family—wife is Sara, son Champ, daughter's name is Stella. I'm sure Champ is two years older than I think he is, so let's say 11. Stella, maybe 8? Who knows. You will never in your life meet someone who is genuinely happier for another man's success than his own. That's Chase.

My guest, Florica Means, is the first polymath I've had on this show. She was born & raised in Romania. She escaped her home country in 1990, at the age of 36. Her story is incredible, which, even writing the word incredible, feels like I've cheapened the word a long time. I've done it justice here though, but I've been forced to grapple with using the word too often—as we frequently use others words. Awesome comes to mind. Or unbelievable. But trust me when I say that "Flory" (permission granted to use her nickname)—her story is hard to believe. It's incredible, but true. I've been inside her home. I've seen pictures, passports, stamps, etc. I'll leave most of the story for her to share. Because she tells it so well. In this episode, once combined with her accent, goosebumps may ensue, which she herself admits to getting while telling her own story. We spend considerable time discussing Florica's experience living under Romanian President Nicolae Ceaușescu's regime. We also talk about what led her to ultimately leaving her home country—the only home she'd ever known. Hint: she'd finally had enough, and wanted a taste of freedom. This was such an insightful discussion from as candid of a guest as I've welcomed here. In fact, I've never had a podcast episode like this. So candid. So vulnerable. I hope you enjoy and appreciate Flory as much as I did.

JR Gondeck is the sharpest financial mind I've had on this show. He's a Wealth Advisor & Managing Director at The Lerner Group. Not to mention he's been featured in Forbes, Barron's, VP at a big bank and has 4 kiddos! JR works with families to promote intentional communication and drive collaboration between all generations. In fact, he recently co-authored a book titled, Family Value at Risk, which details the importance of inclusive and intentional communication among family members "to leave a legacy wealthier than money." JR leverages his deep knowledge of global financial markets and passion for investing to guide clients through market trends. He's an advocate of financial literacy and hosts family meetings to connect with the next generation. In this episode, we discuss JR's thoughts on Bitcoin—whether he believes in its potential as a long-term currency. He focuses on its limiting factors and compares the cryptocurrency to gold. JR and I also talk about the importance of knowing one's Net Worth. He says he's always surprised by how many people don't know their Net Worth, which he says is crucial to know, adding, "Detail everything—from 401K accounts, insurance, investments you've made, mortgage & interest rates—so that you really know what the bottom line number is." Especially at our age (JD & I are the same age), he says, "It's critical you know where everything is and how it's titled." Why is this so important (that you know your Net Worth)? Number one. It allows for better decision-making, both short-term (can you buy a new car with the motherfuckin' driver seat sittin' in the middle?) and long-term (can you and your son Weezy get a house by the water?) This conversation was fun. My guest was sharp as they come. He makes many predictions during this episode that have already come true. But perhaps the most impactful part of the discussion, for me at least, was how he now has me thinking about multi-generational financial strategy. Whereas I considered myself a long-term thinker before now, JR has me adding pages to the 'ole financial playbook. Hope you learn as much as I did!

My podcast guest today is one-of-a-kind. Those are words I've never used to describe any prior guest. Strong words, you might say. Deserving, I'd throw back at you. Harry Corcell is someone I've liked and respected since we met in late 2000s working at Idera Software. I wish we'd met sooner. Yeah, that sounds like something you'd say about a romantic partner. But I'm leaving it here because I mean it. You'll notice on this episode Harry & I can talk about almost anything (and do): 80s rap, hair bands, Red Sox baseball, being a girl-dad, journaling, race in America, and even Flow: Optimal Experience. Born in Bogota, Columbia, Harry didn't move to Boston till he was 8 years old. Listen closely when he speaks, and you'll hear a cross between Boston & Brooklyn, a place he's also lived. In fact, during Fun Questions, Harry said Brooklyn would be his top choice to live of all cities in the US. Strong words, you might say. I've never been to Brooklyn, I'd rebut. Whether selling tons of software, "killing" on stage at a comedy club, or "bombing"—he's done all three over the last 20 years. And you won't meet anyone more appreciative of the opportunities and experiences Harry has had. He's got an affable manner that draws you in. He's instantly likable. If I gave you three guesses as to what Harry does for a living, you'd probably guess it in one. Not only is he a natural sales guy, but he views his vocation as a craft—he's a true student of the profession—something we need more of. Harry also discusses being on the The Hero's Journey. After reading Joseph Campbell's book by the same name, how could you not think you're on the same path (albeit your own). By the way, I bought The Power of Myth after Harry said it was his favorite book. I couldn't be more fortunate to catch Harry the day before he moved to Miami, FL. If you enjoy good storytellers, this episode's for you. If you like witty banter, again. this episode is for you. If you believe wide-ranging discussions about interesting topics are your favorite kind of podcasts, then by now you smell what that fella who earned a degree from "The U" in '95 is cookin'. Harry takes us through the ups and downs of how he got to where he is now, in a way that only he could. It's a high bar, but I hope Miami treats Harry Corcell with the respect he deserves. He's a good man, hard-working and hilarious. Not the sort of person you'd want to compete with if you were selling a similar software product, which is the reason he's bringing his A+ software game to South Florida—he got a job offer he couldn't refuse. Hope you get a chance to tune in to this episode and enjoy it as much as I did.

Jim Corfield is one of those guys you don't meet everyday. We were chatting at the hotel pool in Playa Del Carmen, MX, but it felt like we were on bar stools in a British pub. I was drawn to him. It could've been his ability to tell a good story—a rare and underrated skill set. Which too often reminds me of a sense of humor in that everybody thinks they have it. Nonetheless, five minutes of chatting with Jim and I thought I've gotta get this Brit on the pod. He's got "it." He's a married father of three and an adept risk-taker (my kind of guy). Quick example—six years ago he moved his family from small town Britain to Vancouver. On a whim. Now he's living out his childhood dream, traveling at a break-neck pace and eating it up like he's never had anything but British food. We talk about getting rich slowly; buying assets in lieu of things that depreciate in value; envy and resentment for success in Britain; similarities in the underclasses of America & Britain; how expensive Vancouver is nowadays; real estate investing; Jim's grand-dad's best advice; Kobe Bryant, Joe Dimaggio & Michael Jordan. This was one of my Top 3 episodes all-time. Hope you'll see why, and enjoy!

My guest is Alla Bondarenko. She’s an art historian and gemologist from St. Petersburg, Russia. She works remotely for a Russian company in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. Her two passions are psychology & travel. Lucky for us, I'm not interested in gemology, so we mostly discuss travel & psychology. No applause please—it's my job to ensure each episode is worth listening to. But this one, especially, you'll want to copy the link and share with friend(s). Why? Because Alla is the smart & opinionated friend, who, if you got her in a room to "pick her brain" (like many people say they want with you over coffee sometime—but you never hear from again), you'd be like: "Holy moley—this girl's been holding out on me." She doesn't volunteer what she knows, but with a little prodding, you realize the wealth of information in her noggin. In Texas, we'd say, "Look at the big 'ol brain on Alla." Enter Man O. Perhaps the brightest Christmas light on the tree—at least during the USSR years when Christmas was largely erased from the calendar thanks to anti-religious policies during the Soviet Union years. But we're back! Notice the picture at the bottom of the show notes. For this episode, I reserved a private room in a co-working space. And the two of us dive-deep into: Alla growing up in Russia Russia-Ukraine conflict masculinity / femininity fake Covid vaccine cards the years following Soviet Union's implosion Alla's opinion of Putin For those of you with no patience—you're either a bad doctor or lack self-regulation—at around 30:00 minutes in you'll hear a unique opinion of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Or maybe you have a 27-minute commute tomorrow morning and want to hear a fearless Russian's take on Putin that'll fire you up for the day. If so, you've come to the right place. You can catch the rest of this podcast episode on your way home, on a walk, or at the gym. Aren't podcasts the greatest invention since drip coffee? You can listen anytime, anywhere. When I start asking Alla about the first time she'd heard about "the conflict," she says she didn’t believe it at first. When friends told her the news—she thought she was hearing the product of mass-media manipulation. It took several days for her to finally believe it was in fact true. We also talk about her troubles working remotely as a result of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. For example, since Visa, Mastercard, and all other money-transferring services are now blocked for Russians like her, she says she must be paid in a Russian account—but then she immediately turns her rubles into cryptocurrency. Since the war began in February 2022, she says the exchange rate of Russian rubles (RUB) has plummeted. Right now, she's taking a 20% pay cut at work. But for many weeks—immediately following the conflict—she suffered what amounted to a 50% pay cut, almost overnight. We also share our thoughts on topics such as: travel, dating, meditation, and much more. Having Alla on the podcast was my biggest "score" of '22. Suffice it to say, you'll learn something new. You'll also nearly guaranteed to hear an opinion you haven't heard before. She's incredibly bright, well-read and possesses that singular trait I value most in a podcast guest—she speaks candidly & without reservation.

No guest will be joining me for this episode. Instead, by popular request, I'm revisiting the blog post I wrote called: 40 Pieces of Life Advice for 20-Year Old Me. Positive feedback received from the article continues to be overwhelming, in the best way possible, and much appreciated. Tens of thousands of you have read the piece. And I've been told by dozens of readers that it's been the most helpful article I've written to date. So let's take a deeper dive, shall we?! I'll cover points not covered in the first "deep dive" solo episode. Hope you enjoy listening as much as I did recording! Life advice discussed: [#3] Don’t bother telling people what you plan to do—just do it. [#5] You don’t need a leadership title to be a leader. If you see potential in someone who doesn’t see it, offer to help them. [#13] Words are powerful—none more powerful than, “I love you.” [#17] True self-confidence is rare because it’s hard to attain and there are no shortcuts. [#18] Our world is filled with people who are 1) unaware 2) have no desire for the truth 3) can’t even bear to tell themselves the truth. [#28] Interpersonal skills are at an all-time low thanks to 10 years of human screen-addictions. [#29] Listen more than you talk, and don’t talk to talkers. [#30] You’ll live a more peaceful life expecting incompetence and being pleasantly surprised than the reverse. Unless someone works with you or for you, expect incompetence. [#31] Happiness is your responsibility [#32] God may have made Hollywood celebrities a thing just to demonstrate that fame & fortune don’t make for a happy life. [#34] Two things to study continuously: communication & human nature. [#36] Get to acceptance as fast as possible. [#40] Invest well. You can’t believe what you can see & do once you get money out of the way.

In this episode, we discuss Mr. Sperier's time during the war. He wanted to be a naval aviation pilot "on the carriers." He recalls how they faked his colorblind test so he could advance to the next round of screening. It wasn’t until the next physical exam that he was busted. He'd have to give up on his dream of serving in the Naval Air Force and join the Merchant Marine Cadet Corp. He finished basic training and started his maritime training as a cadet in King’s Point, New York, which he says was "heaven on earth." Why? There were so many women to choose from. Apparently, all the 19-20 year old men were off at war, which meant those men training at King's Point had their choice of young gals. Mr. Sperier didn't take many trips to Europe—his deployment called for only 3 months of sea duty. Though he does remember fondly the brand new T2 tanker he rode as part of the convoy to Britain. We also talk about his career after the war ended. He worked as a test engineer at Pratt & Whitney, then got word the United States planned to go to the moon. He said he had to figure out a way to work on "the moon shot"—a project he definitely wanted to part of. At Chrysler, he helped to build the Saturn rocket that propelled the first man to the moon. The rest, as they say, is history.

My guest is listener-favorite, Jerrard Parfait. Last time he was on the show—it was the most-downloaded episode of the year (2021). Parfait is someone I respect for his relationship-building skills, parenting style, compartmentalization regarding risk-taking (which is a very underrated skill set btw). Not to mention he's a smart man and great conversationalist. In this episode, we discuss small talk vs. engaging conversations. Being a good conversationalist is another important skill set. I'm not sure how I personally picked up the ability to have beyond surface-level conversations quickly, but I think it has something to do with where I was raised (South Louisiana). I've always believed people in the Deep South are better conversationalists. And maybe that's because when you're living in a small town, you're sort of forced to have more conversations with people, whereas it's easier to hide and be anonymous in a big city. We talk a lot about Joe Rogan. And for good reason. He may be the most popular media figure in the country right now. His success has been largely dependent on his ability to have great conversations. We each share a few of our favorite JRE episodes. I ask Parfait about what he calls “The Joe Rogan Effect,” which is basically when someone hears a thought or opinion on a JRE episode and regurgitates what they've heard as if the opinion were their own. But we share thoughts on many topics—most of them listed below. Toward the end, we dedicate an entire section to parenting questions & answers. And since Parfait's been on the show before, I give him a new set of fun questions to answer. Hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did!

My guest is Tyler Aaron Johnson. He's a former Division I student-athlete at Nicholls State University. He played a big role on a defensive front that led the nation in sacks and tackles for loss in 2017 & 2018. In Taylor's senior season, they won the 2018 Southland Conference Championship! Tyler & I first met when I was invited to speak to their football team in 2018. Since then, he's become part of my one-on-one coaching program, which he says has provided invaluable insight on his journey to F.I.R.E (Financial Independence, Retire Early). He's a recent grad of Medical Sales College in Dallas, TX. And in recent weeks, he's landed a job in the cardiac division of an industry-leading company. How 'bout that? Just landed his first "real-world" job and already he's fully aware of FIRE. Don’t bet against this dude getting to FIRE. Fast. He’ll continue to keep his expenses low even once big paychecks start rolling in. That's when he'll start saving & investing a large portion of his income. In this episode, we discuss the importance of "not letting a bad play boil over into a bad day." It’s a quote he got from a good football coach. He said coaches will scold you for a bad play, but they did not want you to let a bad play roll over into the next play. Tangentially, Tyler says just because you’re not doing well in one aspect of life doesn’t mean you’re a failure. It just means you have something you need to work on. So keep persisting, be diligent, and compartmentalize. We also discuss the peace that comes from finding joy (vs. chasing happiness). Tyler says happiness is important, but it’s a fleeting emotion based on where you are and who’s around you at the time. Joy, on the other hand, is a state of being. It’s knowing your good days are going to be better than your bad days. He believes living with this disposition comes from God, and says other people call it "zen," adding, "It’s something you can definitely work toward." Excellent discussion with a young guest I’m proud to mentor. Hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did!

Brandon Ruttley married about as well as a man can (I've known his wife since we were 10 years old). He's also the father of three beautiful girls, ages 10,7 & 3. Affectionately known as "Ruttley," or just "Rutt," in recent years he's more than quadrupled his income. Nowadays, we'd call a man of Rutt's calibre a "dude" (we used to call them "studs"). And I haven't even mentioned—Ruttley is a former 5'9" walk-on Division I basketball player of a Caucasian persuasion. "Walk-ons" have a different mentality from the rest. Ruttley now sells commercial insurance, where I'm told, "he kills it—everyday." Prior to his role in insurance, Ruttley spent seven years in athletics' administration as the #2 at Nicholls State University. His position as Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs at Nicholls State (2010-2016) meant overseeing all fundraising, ticket sales, sponsorships, marketing, football scheduling, and facility planning initiatives for the athletics' programs. When his own plan to become Athletic Director didn't pan out, he wasted no time using connections he'd made over the years to quickly find another opportunity. One thing I admire about Ruttley. He's a master relationship-builder. In fact, he believes, "relationships rule the world," adding, "without strong relationships—we never unlock our full potential." In this episode, he shares his secrets to building strong relationships. Secrets which have helped him become a "Peak Producer" for his management of several large accounts—not just in Louisiana—but all across the country. In this episode, we talk about how he became a fan of the Man Overseas podcast. He explains how the show has helped him to become financially prepared. For example, he's set up Roth IRAs for he & wife, Georgia. He now has 529 plans for his daughters. Enrolled in a 401K plan for himself and setup taxable brokerage accounts—all over the past six months. He also reveals that he'd never read a single book about personal finance before listening to the podcast, but has now read several. (All of this is music to my ears, of course!) We also discuss the book Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: 10 Secrets Every Father Should Know by Meg Meeker, M.D., which Brandon generously sent me in the mail last summer. One of the key takeaways from the book is the importance of improving your communication skills. People often think of communication skills as being more articulate or having an extensive vocabulary, but it's so much more than that. The author talks about how you say something is as important as anything you say. She uses this example. Asking your daughter: "I just can't imagine being your age—what's it like being a 13-year old girl right now?" Genius. It's open-ended. It demonstrates empathy and compassion. And most importantly, it's likely to get your daughter talking without feeling threatened. My copy of Strong Fathers, Strong Daugthers has as many highlights as any other book I own. Ruttley and I have a chapter-by-chapter discussion that would benefit any #girldad too busy to read an entire book. There's a reason Ruttley & I have become better friends through the years. It's the elevated quality of our conversations and the desire to get better every day. In this episode, we have a tremendous chat that I'll cherish for a long time. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

I’ve wanted Kurt Kristynik as a guest on the podcast for a long time. Interestingly, as Vice President of Buffaloe Floors, Kurt runs a 3rd generation family business—a bit of a black swan considering America's startup craze. Thinking back. I've respected Kurt's business acumen since the day I invited him to speak at our real estate organization almost 20 years ago. A presentation he nailed, by the way, due to his effective communication skills, humility and relatability. Kurt is also Director of Rake City Cypress Baseball, an organization he started from scratch in Spring 2017. The program, located in Cypress, Texas, is where he and wife, Marti, raise their son, Cole, and daughter, Chance. In his spare time, Kurt likes to deer hunt, fish and bar-b-que with friends & fam. In addition to his role as Director of Rake City Cypress Baseball, he operates three high school travel teams every fall and summer. Yet none of that is why I wanted Kurt on the podcast. Don't get me wrong. Operating & growing a family business is no small feat. Nor is building an elite baseball program or raising a beautiful family. But for me, you sit beside Kurt, talking baseball, drinking beers—with or without respect for an arbitrary twenty-one number—or have him pull you "under his giant wing" to remind you the importance of where you came from. Of tradition. Of why relationships don't die, they deepen. Of keeping in contact—regardless where you happen to be in the world. Most importantly, it's Kurt's presence. His way of being that elevates those around him. It's a presence that's always conveyed to me: "You go be you, 'lil bro,' I trust you. Together, we'll get this thing figured out." By the way, Rake City isn't a place, although Alex Bregman may beg to differ. He and several teammates started calling Albuquerque, New Mexico, "Rake City," due to the amount of hitters his hometown produced. For the uninitiated, "rake," in baseball parlance, means frequently barreling that MF! If you need help there, this episode isn't for you. Rake City "prided themselves on playing the game the right way, producing great teammates and young men who are going to be ready for the next levels of baseball and life."

Four guests join me for this important episode: Matthew Ory, Preston Hayes, Barry Sartin Jr., and David Ardoin. All are highly-respected civil & criminal attorneys who offer litigation services to individuals and businesses. Matt Ory & David Ardoin have been working together for 10 years at AMO Trial Lawyers. Their practice areas are: criminal defense, medical malpractice, and personal injury. Preston Hayes & Barry Sartin Jr. are partners at HMS Law Firm, where they help clients primarily with business litigation, construction law, personal injury and trial presentation. In this episode, we focus the first hour on Hurricane Ida: the recovery, price gouging, importance of keeping a paper copy of your insurance policy—which Matt believes is the most simplistic lesson learned from this recent storm to hit Louisiana). Why is that? Reason is your homeowners' policy will be needed when contacting an insurance adjuster following a major storm. My guests also give recommendations on what you should do before & after a hurricane. For example, when should you give proper notice to your insurance agent or broker that you've experienced a loss you believe to be covered by insurance. We discuss the importance of documentation when building an insurance claim. Since you’ll have to prove damages you've incurred—it is most crucial that you take photographs and videos. That's because the more information you can provide to your insurance provider, the better they're able to help you. But this episode isn't all serious business. No, in fact, this episode resembles a mullet—all business in the front and a ton of fun on the back end. Per usual, we finish with Fun Questions. but then we try something new. I ask Final Jeopardy questions, most of which are Dream Team-related. Whether that means Johnny Cochran and Kim & Chloe's dad, or Michael Jordan in Barcelona, you'll have to tune in to find out. This was a very informative episode. Way I see it. Anytime you can get this much brain-power in one room you turn yourself into a sponge—ask as many questions as you can and get out of the way. If you were at all negatively impacted by Hurricane Ida, or think you might be affected by a natural disaster in the future—this is an episode you don't want to miss. I learned a lot, hope you do too.