Relatively Normal

What do I know about dating in 2021? Nothing. Other than the fact that it must be mentally exhausting. Honestly, I wouldn't even know how to meet people, how to strike up a conversation and I am almost certain that my anxiety around the opposite sex that plagued me as a teenager would pop back up in my 40s. And that is why my guest this week is the perfect person to talk to you.  Tim Schroede...

Too many times, as men, we are expected to hold things in.  We are expected to always be stoic and a rock that others can depend on.  Even though a lot of us try our hardest to be this symbol of strength in our families and communities, it oftentimes leads to burnout, stress, anxiety and depression.  Many times, men do not have the tools necessary to express their emotions in an eff...

I am honored to welcome Chris Wells as my next guest on the Relatively Normal podcast to speak about #leadership . Chris is the Head of North American Claims for Digital Partners, a Munich Re company . A few years back, he took a chance on me and hired me to lead a project in a field that I had limited experienced. That interview and job changed my professional trajectory. Since that moment, Chris...

Welcome back to the show!  It's great to be starting season 4 and what a show I have for you.  This week, I talk to Matt Ode.  Along with being a cancer survivor he is a motivational speaker, a purpose coach and a newly engaged man.  At the age of 24, he was diagnosed with cancer just as he was in the best physical shape of his life.  Through our discussion, Matt and I tal...

On the final show of the season, I have a conversation with the creator and host of the Tall Hungry Girl Talks podcast, Tahira Hayes . I wanted to talk about the inconsistency and unfairness of how we judge successful and talented women who are not married with kids versus how we judge their male counterparts. But, to be honest, this conversation was so much more. We talked about self-worth, the b...

In my ongoing discussion to learn and empathize with different people, I have a conversation this week with Mike Morton, a member of the LGTBQ community and a Christian.  Mike and I discuss his life growing up in the church and his life learning about his own sexuality and how he tries everyday to live through Jesus Christ as a gay man.  Mike's husband is the pastor of their church and t...

On this week's show, I welcome Aleah Dutton, a 20-year-old junior from the University of Central Oklahoma, to the show.  On this episode, we have a conversation about the current mental state of the younger generation in present-day America. We can learn a lot from what this generation is doing.  They are tackling racial injustice, sexism, homophobia and so much else head-on. They are us...

If you have never listened to my show, this is a great one to start with.  In the past few episodes, I have spoken with an Asian-American, a Black-American, a member of the LGBTQ+ community and a female and asked about their current mental state in present-day America.  I hadn't spoken with a white male on this subject, yet.  On this show, I do just that.  But, what I got was a...

I really don't want to keep talking about this but I feel that I must.  In the past few days, we have had to deal with the news of this killing of Duante Wright, the police interaction with Lt. Caron Nazario and the final days of the Derek Cauvin trial. Those are just a few of the many high profile run-ins that people of color have had with police that has circulated in the media in the last...

In the growing divisive atmosphere of this country, it is only right that I have a conversation with a member of the Asian-American community.  Unfortunately, during this pandemic, we have seen a growing number of hate crimes against the Asian community due to hateful rhetoric and plain ignorance.  Just like I have mentioned for other marginalized groups, I want to be an ally and being a...

I do this show because I like to shed light on a topic that is very important to me - Mental Health.  However, like I mention all the time, I am not a doctor.  It would be unwise and most likely illegal for me to give out any advice to others.  That is why, on this episode, I invited an actual doctor to speak with me about mental health and well-being and talk about the reasons he b...

Growth is not easy. That's it. Nothing more to explain. The process of continually improving and growing into a better person takes commitment. It takes honesty. It takes time and effort.  On this week's show, I have a conversation with Dawn Hays, Interim CPO at Root Insurance, to discuss what growth and improvement looks likes, how we can measure success and how we can deal with stress and b...

Have you found yourself struggling to get out of that rut or find happiness in the things you are doing?  Some things you may want to consider are finding the root cause of what is causing your pain and if you are finding any personal happiness in the things you are doing.  When we search for and find the root cause of our issues, it can be painful but lead to immense healing in our live...

I want to be an ally.  I want to be an ally to all groups of people that are discriminated against.  In my continued effort to do this, I have a chat with a member of the LGBTQ+ community, my friend Christina O'Leary.  Christina takes this time to open about her life and what she has gone through since her younger days.  She also speaks about what it was like growing up in the...

What is the current mental state of the black man in present-day America?  I could say it myself but I would rather have an open and honest discussion with another black man so we can have a conversation that more of us could be having.  In this week's show, Julian and I discuss topics ranging from the effects of microaggressions to the ongoing relationship people of color have with law...

In this week's show, I welcome Kiah Tiller, a body builder and co-owner of K2 Motions Stretch Therapy, to talk to me about body image.  As a person that shows her body for subjective judgment, I thought she would be the perfect guest to discuss this topic.  Let's be honest, we can't go to a store without seeing a magazine cover exclaiming how to get a "killer body in 2 weeks" or scroll t...

In my second conversation with Dr. David Pfaff, I sit down and have a conversation I have wanted to have for a long time - a conversation about suicide.  This is such a tough subject to talk about but it is needed.  In short, we need to talk about it and talk about it often.  People are struggling  and they think they have anywhere to turn for help.  It may be a parent, a...

If you work in any size company or corporation right now, you have probably heard or been a part of Diversity and Inclusion Training - it's everywhere. And regardless if you believe it is necessary or not, all the data tells us the same thing: more diverse workplaces are better and more productive places of business.  But, other than the numbers, how do diverse and/or non diverse places affec...

This episode is my first of many on a new platform: Tha Empire Radio.  I am really excited about this new service and I cannot wait to reach more people to continue the discussion on mental health and awareness.  In this episode, I go back over some of my plans with the show, re-introduce myself and talk to a new audience.  I remind people to take time to work on their mental health...

You know that person you have in your life? That one person - they are not related to you (but they could be), they are not a co-worker (but you would love to work with them), and they haven't always been in your life (but it feels like they have)?  Yeah, that person.  Well for me, that authentic, charismatic, joyful, "live your life to the fullest" person is my friend, Gina O'neal. &nbs...

What does it mean to be authentic and how can we live an authentic life? For the next few episodes, I will be exploring this topic.  In psychology, individuals considered authentic are those who generally strive to align their actions with their core values and beliefs with the hope of discovering, and then acting in sync with, their "true selves."  That is a lot and it can be hard. &nbs...

What most people already know is that life is hard.  What few fail to mention is that life continues to be hard even when the women in our lives make it look easy.  My wife was unbelievably stressed out the last few days and I tried my best to remind her that her life is difficult.  I did not try to fix her stress or invalidate her feeling - what I DID try to do is help her reframe...

The end of 2020 is upon us and and many of us can't wait for 2021 to start.  With that being said, a lot of us are going to make some pretty hefty new year resolutions. I am here to tell you not to - it is totally up to you if you listen.  Unnecessary resolutions put unneeded pressure on us and are a recipe for failure.  The process to really improve yourself mentally and physically...

This is the hardest episode I have ever recorded.  With the help of my therapist, I have been trying to grieve my mother's death.  My mother died 2 years ago after a short and difficult batter with cancer.  She was everything to me and my family.  She was the glue that kept us all together.  I was a mama's boy and proud of it.  She and I had some great conversation on...

I have wanted to do this show for a long time and I happy to finally be able to say that I have interviewed a rapper! On today's show, I sit down and talk with Skipp Whitman, a music artist based in LA but originally from Boston.  I met Skipp almost 15 years ago while he was performing in Brooklyn, NY. On this episode, Skipp opens up about the mental aspect within a life of music.  He ta...