The Prequel

While doing some yard work, Mike was poked by a thorn on his wife's rose bush. When he stepped back because of the pain, he was struck by the bush's beauty. Life comes with amazing moments, but also comes with its fair share of pain and challenges. How do we find the beauty in life while, at times, it attempts to simultaneously pull us down? Are you in your thorns or your petals? And how...

"I wish there was more time in the day." A phrase we have all uttered more than once in our lives is Mike's focus in this week's episode. He reflects on his younger days when being the first one done or getting onto the next thing was all that mattered. What he quickly learned that it is important to move slow because, in the end, success catches up to you. In this episode, he...

Join Mike for another episode as he takes a look why we fear being in the spotlight throughout our lives. As an introvert, Mike can find many moments that being the center of attention has made him nervous. However, he has come to learn that everyone being focused on him is a story that he has been telling himself. So how do we avoid the "Spotlight Complex" and pull others into this perc...

As human beings, it is very easy to get caught up being a cog in the wheel of helping others accomplish what is important to them. In this episode, Mike reminds us to be the wheel. His message is simple: Do what is important to YOU! The question he asks may shock some of you, but Mike believes it is a valuable question to answer if we are truly going to start focusing on what is important to us! S...

On this episode of "The Prequel", Mike answers a question he is asked very often. How do we avoid the idea of "Toxic Positivity" or trying to force others to only feel positive emotions despite what their experiences are. He dives into the difference between realistic positivity, creating a brave space for belonging, and allowing people to experience life however they need to i...

Mike spends this episode of "The Prequel" pushing an important reminder. As life presents us new opportunities, we have all sorts of emotions attached to them. We might feel nervous, excited, joy, thrill, and more. Being a beginner comes with a sense of excitement (and maybe a side of nerves). As we settle in, it is possible that the joy subsides. Mike reminds us to always keep a bit of...

We are back for another episode of "The Prequel" and Mike is looking back to look ahead. He reminds us that sometimes in life, reflection can take us further than rushing too far ahead of ourselves. The ability to slow down and understand the experiences we confront on our journeys help us learn how to show up down the road. Subscribe to the YouTube Channel and follow, rate wherever you...

"The Prequel" is back and taking a look at our measure of perfection. Mike walks us through toward the idea that we are forever a work in progress. He challenges us to never stop working on ourselves and discusses ways in which he has been able to continue working on himself throughout his own life. As Mike says in the episode, "Human being is a verb...We are all a work in progress....

On this week's episode of "The Prequel," Mike reflects on the limitless opportunities we have each day to make a difference in the world. How do we take advantage of it? Are we scared of taking the steps we have to take? Do our thoughts get in the way while others are out there doing what we can to add to our own greatness? Mike takes us on the reflective journey of how we can live...

Another week and another episode of "The Prequel" is here! In this episode, Mike focuses on how we can be someone's favorite person. He discusses one of his favorite songs and the ways in which we can live out the important lyrics in simple ways for the people we meet in our daily lives. Mike pushes us to move past the idea that making a HUGE difference has to be a HUGE act beyond o...

Mike is back with another episode of "The Prequel" for us to consider how to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. In this episode, he takes a look at the challenges that we face. Do we carry the mountains with us or try to climb them instead? He takes a look at times he did both and the differences he felt. Mike will challenge you to see why climbing those mountains will u...

On this episode of "The Prequel," Mike is in his Harry Potter Era. As he finished off the first book awhile back, a quote stuck out to him. Mike takes a close look at the ways that the choices we make define our character far more than our abilities. He highlights how making the choice to show up for others in times of need and showing kindness each and every day shows the type of strong...

"Your time is limited. Don't waste it trying to be someone else." Steve Jobs said it best. And Mike is off and running in this week's episode about why it is so important to be authentic. Mike explores times in his own life that he put on a mask to be anyone other than himself. He reflects on why that might have been the case, and hopes you will do the same. Take some time to c...

For some of us, asking for help is perhaps one of life's most difficult challenges. For whatever reason, when we are faced with a challenge that takes a lot of energy, we are more likely to let ourselves become frustrated than we are seek out help. In this episode, Mike takes some time on his own reservations in asking for help. He invites you to do the same. At the end of the day, the more w...

Mike is back with another episode this week for all of us to reflect on when we might need to adjust. Life will change at the drop of the hat. The expected will become the unexpected. In order to write our stories in the most productive ways, we must be ready to change with the change. Mike walks us through how he learned to adjust, and the steps we can take to make sure change does not impact us...

The Prequel is back for another season, but Mike has changed the game just a bit. He wants to give you short snippets of thoughts to start each week. While he enjoyed the interviews and hearing the stories of others, this season is dedicated to the ways in which we can all contribute to our own prequel as well as that of others. On our season premier, Mike focuses on dealing with uncertainty. The...

Join Mike as he talks to Michele Capots, transformational coach, speaker, and storyteller. Michele's work around mental health and resilience is making a difference with all of her clients. Her story gives us a glimpse into how we can take our fears and turn them into our greatest successes. This is a conversation that you will not want to miss. Follow Michele at www. MicheleCapots.com and on...

Join Mike as he sits down with Lorna Hollifield, the author of The Ocean at Night and Tobacco Sun . She is currently the editor of Charleston Women Magazine. The two discuss the challenging world of writing, how Lorna's journey to publishing her first book was an unexpected journey, and her advice to up and coming writers with big dreams. We think you will find her  story and advice beneficia...

What an episode! Mike sits down with Jaimie Beebe, a casting director, podcast host, and founder of The Boyfriend Bikini. Jaimie lets us into the world of being a casting director, but perfectly ties it to how those experiences affect the stories of the people in the roles. They discuss her podcast, "Strictly Stalking," how it came to be, and the impact it has had on her guests. Lastly,...

Join Mike in his most recent conversation with author and podcaster, Dominique "Dom" Brightmon. The two explore all things podcasting and writing, while Dom challenges listeners to stop comparing themselves to others and a different version of themselves. We get a look into the experiences and people who pushed him to become an author and speaker. Join Mike and Dom as they encourage you...

Join Mike as he welcomes Rita Farruggia the founder and CEO of www.happybeingwell.com to "The Prequel" for episode four. Mike and Rita dig into how and why her website went from vision to the real deal. Rita shares the purpose behind what she does, and how she arrived at this important work. The two dive into Rita's journey and really explore a deep dive into self-care. Rita's...

On this week's episode, Mike is joined by fellow Elizabethtown College Blue Jay, Wyatt Eaton. While Mike and Wyatt were on campus at the same time, it was not until after college that their prequels really aligned. They have bonded over their love of the Philadelphia Eagles.  Over the course of the last year, Wyatt's life has taken an unexpected turn. After years of athletic endeavors an...

Join Mike as he welcomes his first guest, Michelle Dickinson, an educator resiliency coach to discuss her role and how she was led to this path. Mike and Michelle discuss the challenges that educators have been facing post pandemic. She gives tremendous advice as to how we can all navigate the challenges we face with a dose of resilience. The two dive deeper into Michelle's story and how it b...

On the premier episode of "The Prequel" Mike Azzalina introduces himself and why stories are so incredibly important to him. He explains that this is a show to help others tell their own stories in order to bring light to the people and experiences that made them who they are today. Mike tells his own story about his Grandpop and the ways his life was shaped by moments spent together...a...