PUSHING BACK CHAOS

Planning. The process of considering and deciding on desirable goals and then mapping out a path to achieve them. This is the first step in causing a desired outcome to appear in reality. Putting a deadline onto the goal is what separates it from a dream and motivates us into action.  Back in 2020, your hosts went through the process of mapping out goals for themselves- big goals in a 5 year plan....

Have you ever stopped and taken a look back at who you were at this time last year? Did you ever write down who you were, where you were, and why that was you? How about now? Who are you? How have you changed? What caused the change? What are you doing better at now than you were before? This week, the dynamic trio of Melon, Mike ,and Raf welcome their friend and fellow marine veteran, Jeff Skinne...

The boys, absent of Melon, carved out some time to have a sit down and talk about the busy holiday they all experienced this season. This was much a conversation between two friends just catching up, as much as it is on the power of exercising gratitude and positive affirmation. The guys talk about why Love is a Verb, and not just a word you should say out loud.  They share the steps and daily rit...

This week, the boys and their guest Nick Grossi, had a great discussion on the benefits of personal development. More importantly, they discussed why personal development isn’t just a set of activities that one does consistently to improve their capabilities and potential human capital; but instead the necessary path to improve your life, and those you impact most throughout your daily existence....

As a follow up from a previous NYAO legacy episode (7) titled “Childhood Mentors“, Mike and Melon are pleased to welcome a very special guest to the show this week, Mr. Carl Huszar- U.S Army Vietnam veteran, 40+ year educator, and the current president of Mike’s hometown historical society.  As Mike’s former U.S History/Government teacher in High School, he expertly  instilled many of the values a...

This week, the boys had the immense pleasure of having a sit down with a true legend, for those lucky enough to have served with her, in the Army Black Hawk Medevac community. You’ll agree that her resume and high functioning abilities seem only natural by products of her demeanor and unstoppable approach to life at large. Something we can all glean from! Major Taylor Ridge is a current transition...

“Acquire the habit of attending carefully to what is being said by another, and of entering, so far as possible, into the mind of the speaker” -       Marcus Aurelius   Empathy. The ability to imagine what it is like to be another person, or to put yourselves into their shoes.   Why is it that this aspect of human character is so highly prized in the professional and interpersonal space right now?...

“It is a sin to pursue pleasure as a good and to avoid pain as a evil.” - Marcus Aurelius Everyday will test you. That test is unique and tailored to each one of us, because our fears are unique to us. You need to know this the second  you wake up. Life is going to test you, and you MUST be prepared. Melon, Mike and Raf enjoyed a powerful conversation with their guest Nick Grossi. Nick, a former M...

On this episode of Pushing Back Chaos…. we are on The Decision Hour, with our friend and host Adam Bird As long time friends, the four open up and peel back the layers on why they have pursued podcasting and name some of the main life events that have guided them to find purpose in helping others while helping themselves throughout everyday challenging times.  From struggles with manhood, to comba...

We will all face new roles. Yesterday’s solution is not going to cut if for tomorrow’s challenge.   These new roles will occur professionally as promotions, or entirely new career paths. They will also occur in our personal life. New friendships. Singles become couples. Couples become parents.   Mike and Melon have both repeatedly moved into new roles, and are facing new roles in their near future...

Overt: Done or shown openly. Plainly apparent.   Covert: Not openly acknowledged or displayed. Veiled, secret or hidden.   Military operations are conducted either out in the open, with part of the aim being a display of capability, or are conducted in darkness and secrecy, aiming to keep the enemy unaware or unsure of what has been done.  Your team have all conducted both overt and covert operati...

Everyone has something they are scared of. It follows you throughout the day and goes to bed with you at night. Just the thought of it can bring anxiety, uneasiness, stress, or even pain.  But when we take a step back, what really is fear? Is it some invisible force acting upon us? Or is it our own actions and perceptions that put ourselves in that worrisome space? This week, Raf and Mike are join...

This week, Melon and Raf sat down for a Q&A about some of the lessons, convictions, and mistakes they’ve gleaned about Fatherhood. Our long-time listeners know how earnestly, both Raf and Melon, take their roles as fathers. They share some of the strategies that they’ve found successful, as well as changes that they didn’t foresee coming. Both men, in agreement, share the importance and looming un...

This conversation is the result of a classic Pushing Back Chaos three time-zone rendezvous across the globe- Raf in an overnight airport crash pad about to fly home; Mike racing in from a training session with his men; and Melon getting up in the middle of the night.   Books The three cover off recently read books. Raf will give you an update from Dr David Sinclair and his life extension research...

Life beats us down. It’s unforgiving at times. We’ve been lost, deceived, injured, heartbroken, etc. Everybody goes through tough and challenging times. As we say, “Nobody gets a pass!” What we also must remember is that our personal VALUE must remain in the mirror at all times. What do we mean to ourself? Our family? Our friends? Our team at work? Or how about to those you don’t even know that yo...

This week, the boys discussed the difficulty and challenges we face when we try to right a wrong. More pointedly, they discuss the times they each made catastrophic mistakes that didn't just cause them pain, but hurt those closest around them. With some of these mistakes, came great shame and disappointment in themselves. Similarly, they talked in great detail about the crucible they had to endure...

As we move through our adult lives, we often find ourselves unclear or struggle to remember some of the most important and fundamental things. Easier said than practiced, yes?  We came together and decided that maybe we didn’t have all the right answers from our perspective. So this week, Raf and Mike brought in Melon’s 13 year old son Michael to conduct a blind interview with him and hear what it...

Lots of people are dealing with stress in our lives. Some of us are overloaded now, and many more have been there in the past.   Is there a way of relating to stress that is different, and that brings with it a new freedom?   Raf couldn’t make it this week- airline schedules can be rough on the family, and getting the three guys together across the globe s a challenge at the best of times. Melon a...

This week, the boys discussed the importance of attenuating your thoughts to one or two things that allow you full focus and clarity. They’ve found through their experiences that working on the ability to harness that conscious effort over a long period of time, into one activity, has catapulted them into high states of productivity and the skill to execute that task at a very high level. Not surp...

This week, the boys took a somber turn to sit and talk about the importance of understanding humanity’s dark past. Among a plethora of reasons, they reasoned that forcing yourself to look into the macabre of what we’re capable of is the encouragement our future generations will need in order to prevent those events from happening again. This discussion was inspired by Mike’s recent visit to the Wo...

We’ve all had them. Certain people or situations in our lives that have brought nothing but anxiety, stress, and the feeling of just pure unhealthiness. It’s not always easy to handle or address, is it? This week, the team focuses on this unfortunate but popular topic. They openly and honestly discuss: -What are the signs and symptoms of a toxic relationship/environment? -What are some actions we...

This week, the boys felt compelled to talk about one of the most constant battles within each of us. That is, the perpetual struggle with trying to minimize, break, and move on from a continual loop of negative thoughts. Everyone will experience this in their existence. So how do we manage it? Everyone has their own nuanced way of approaching this, but in this conversation between the boys materia...

There is no hiding from it. It’s already here. The globe is currently in the beginning stages of a decaying economic state due to inflation, economic/political decisions, and conflict in Europe. Everything from fuel, food, home goods, and medicine are now way overpriced for the common family to sustain over time, but how can we manage to get through? This week, the team brings out a few points and...

PBC #6- Carpe Diem Carpe Diem. Seize the day.  How many times have we all heard that line, or maybe even said it ourselves? What does it mean, to seize the day? Not to just drift through the day? Jonathon “Morgs” Morgan flew P3 Orions for the Royal Australian Air Force with Melon back in the day. Morgs was one of Melon’s co-pilots in combat operations over Iraq. He went on to command his own crew,...

It’s an everyday occurrence. You hear and see the people who are always causing ripples in the waters of society with talks of entitlement. How they are owed more money, more gifts, more attention, or more time, simply for showing up or by their own expectations. How many of us genuinely enjoy being around these people?  On the flip side, we also interact with those who realize what they already h...