Mind of the Messiah

Today’s episode was recorded while on an evening countryside cruise with my wife, Kristin. After recently purchasing my first Fitbit, Kristin and I were discussing how impressive the technological features were. It wasn’t long before we started pondering how advanced Fitbit technology might become in the future—soon followed by a broader discussion about how advanced ALL technology may become. For...

Well folks, this is our biggest release of this year; by far our most significant page so far. As of today’s post, Red Velvet Photography is pleased to announce that we’ve reached 100 Exposure pages! It has been an incredibly rewarding road since this project has started and I have been blessed to do it alongside the best team in the world! We wanted to celebrate this occasion the best way possibl...

Today, I grabbed the handheld recorder to jot some thoughts down as I pondered Red Velvet Photography's latest accomplishments - posting our first 100 Exposure pages and reaching 20,000 views. This was big news to us; it has been a long road to get to this point. In terms of popularity, these numbers mean nothing to us--we couldn't care less how many people are watching or listening. To us, these...

As of today, I’m 28 years old. Although it appears to be a young age, I feel like too much time is passing by; the clock keeps ticking faster and faster. I know the day will come when I look in the mirror and realize how much time flew by, and how quickly it slipped through my fingers. With that said, a day like today isn’t one of celebration—it is one of reflection. To me, it is important to take...

Hey gang! As of yesterday, I’ve released my 25th episode of QuoteCast. I’m now able to move on to my next project—putting the QuoteCast writings (1-25) together in book format. I’ve been sitting on this idea for a long time and cannot wait to get started! Tune in to hear more about my initial inspiration for this project, the overall vision, book details, and how I plan to go about this process. T...

Today’s Quote: “You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.” - Ray Bradbury

Today’s episode was recorded while on a morning cruise with Kristin and Eric. Eric had mentioned that a recent NFL game had two AI robots present in the stands; the idea of that horrified me. It was a grim reminder of how fast our technology is not only advancing, but how invasive it has become in our lives. As we continue to blend advanced technologies in our lives, such as robots or AI thinking,...

It is time to bust out the flannels and sweatpants; fall is officially here! That means it’s time to indulge in our seasonal favorites: pumpkin patches, corn mazes, bonfires, apple orchards, haunted houses, and cozy evenings spent under warm blankets. What isn’t there to look forward to? With that said, we’ve filled our weekend agendas with these delicacies while we still have the chance to do so....

Hellooooooo again! For the second year in a row, Red Velvet Photography is tossing our name in the hat by participating in “The Nature Conservancy’s 2023 Global Photo Contest”. We are honored to be a part of this event! Kristin, Kylle, and I have selected our 3 “best of the best” photographs of 2023 to submit. We are proud to present our work amongst photographers from all around the world. Althou...

Hey gang! Welcome back for another round of, Footprints and Photographs. Tonkie and I had an amazing weekend with a big celebration - our 3 year anniversary! We decided to combine our anniversary and the fall season together, which brought us to another pumpkin patch and corn maze. Those seasonal activities have always been our favorites, making the Treinen Farm Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch an easy c...

Welcome back! Today, I ponder the absurdity of human conflict - our “natural” propensity to fight amongst ourselves rather than unite. I believe that our conflict stems from us not having a clear understanding of our place in this universe, let alone this rock we call Earth. We fail to acknowledge that this planet is nothing more than a giant rock floating endlessly through outer space. On a much,...

Hey gang. Recently, we returned to a traveling hotspot of ours - Port Washington Breakwater Lighthouse. It’s a location we don’t get to enough; each time leaves us hungry to go back. Between crystal clear waters, a beautiful harbor, and a long stretch of beach, we were set to have a perfect time! I had an extra day off of work due to it being Labor Day weekend, so we were in no rush to cover as mu...

Today’s episode was recorded during an evening drive. While listening to some provoking song lyrics, I was launched into deep thought over the concept of death and identity. Our sensory experiences as human beings, as individuals, ultimately shapes our perception of this world and builds our sense of identity. However, it is fascinating to consider how identity is an artificial construct that our...

Welcome back! Today’s podcast is a reflection of my latest interview with my sister, Kylle Hraban. Kylle has recently begun a new creative endeavor - writing a memoir. I couldn’t be prouder! She is taking on an incredible mental and spiritual challenge; there is no shortage of support and encouragement for her! With that said, our most recent interview revolved heavily around the ideas, processes,...

Hi friends! Today's episode of Top of Mind was recorded at the Treinen Farm Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch. While wandering endlessly around the maze, we often stopped to admire and take in the full scene of fall's beauty - a season we absolutely love! Corn mazes are by far our favorite activity during the months of September and October. However, an odd thought popped into my head at some point. I w...

Heeeeeyyyyy gang! I was recently asked by my old friend, Abraham, if I could help him out with a photoshoot. Abe and I go back a long time, ever since we first met at Saputo. Not to mention, my very first podcast EVER was done with him! That was an amazing experience that led me to where I am today with podcasting. So when it came time to help him out, you bet! He ended up hiring me to take portra...

Grab yourself a fresh cup of coffee, because we have another interview! I recently sat down with my sister, Kylle, for a discussion about her new creative endeavor - writing a memoir. I was beyond happy to hear that she is taking on a project like this, so I wanted to get her on the show and talk about her ideas while they are in their most infant stages. The goal with this conversation was to hea...

Woohoooo! Finally, summer is almost over! We’ve been counting down the days for a while. With that said, August has been an amazing month for us. Our weekends have been jammed packed with events; no complaints on our end. Between hiking at Paradise Springs, celebrating the Waupun Truck-n-Show, returning to our Michigan sanctuary, and a paid photoshoot life has been very exciting! The cherry on top...

Heyyyyy gang. In today’s episode I take a minute and ponder the phenomena of societal angst. Times are constantly changing for better or worse. Our way of life, culture, technology, all of it continuously evolves. It can be tough to accept that. But one thing is for certain, our mindset is what dictates how we cope with change. Throughout history things have NEVER remained the same, that’s okay! I...

Hi friends! Boy, it felt great to be back in Michigan. The U.P. has always been our home away from home; it’s our choice destination whenever we have enough time to make a trip happen. With that said, things were fundamentally different with how we approached our time in Michigan. Instead of comfy hotels and days filled with leisure, we chose to camp out in nature while staying as busy as possible...

Today’s Quote: “You got your life, you’ve got your riches, you’ve got your fame, but you know what, you don’t have the truth. You don’t have the truth. You don’t have the satisfaction of knowing that the person the world thinks you are is who you actually are.” - Duncan Trussell

Hello friends! Welcome to another episode of, Footprints and Photographs. This past weekend was a big one for Waupun; it was the annual Truck-n-Show. We look forward to this city-wide event every year! To add a cherry on top, our family has a few traditions of our own during this celebration. Between catching up with old friends, stuffing our faces with food, having a few cold ones, and filling ou...

Awwwwww shit, it’s time for our return to Michigan! It’s been a handsome minute since we’ve been able to get back to the Upper Peninsula. We’re absolutely stoked for the opportunity! With that said, I sat down today and reflected on the anticipation of getting back on the road, the importance of always having something to look forward to, and the benefits of living a life with direction. Thanks fo...

Welcome! Let’s saddle up for another segment of, Footprints and Photographs. Our month of August has been full of peace and quiet; conditions much needed after a chaotic June and July. Kristin and I have had a lot of great quality time together as a result. We chose to capitalize on the extra time we’ve had together by taking a day trip to a new location - Paradise Springs Nature Trail in Eagle, W...

Today’s Quote: “What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined to strengthen each other, to be at one with each other in silent unspeakable memories.” - George Elliot