The Point of It All

The US and Iran have seemingly been in conflict for as long as I've been alive.  I've been taught to hate Iran because they're a terrorist state, and is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American's.  However, I've always been somewhat of a contrarian, so my need to know "why" the animosity between these two nations exists, and will there ever be a change.As I began researching I was surprised to learn that we weren't always at war with Iran, cold or otherwise. In this podcast I wanted to dig into the history between this relationship, and just how it went sour. Who was at fault? Is this a case of "both sides bad" or is there clearly a bad actor that's responsible for this unrest?  I'm not a foreign policy expert, but I was lucky enough to find one for this episode.  Morgan Huston is a college professor who works in the national security sector.  As an Airforce veteran he has experience in the Middle East, and is very aware of how we got to where we are today.  Morgan has his own podcast on YouTube that you can find here https://www.youtube.com/@WhiskeyMO. He also has a substack where he publishes articles, and you can find that here https://substack.com/@whiskeymo. Finally, here's a link to all of his social media feeds https://linktr.ee/morganhuston

It hasn't been great watching once storied news organizations fall victim to this current authoritarian swoon the country finds itself under. When shows like venerable 60 Minutes become compromised it should serve as a five alarm fire warning, but many of us are left sleep walking from home to work, then back home again just trying to get  by.  We still need informative, truthful news, but how do we get it with in this legacy media malaise? Enter independent media.  It turns out that many of the personalities you've watched over the years are now doing they're own thing, most of them forming their own companies to bring you the truth without the propaganda.  In this episode I list my top 3 independent news sources. I provide a quick bio of each person, then I give you my reasons for why they made my top three. I hope you enjoy it! Be safe until next time!Jamie

I hope this finds you all in good health and spirit.  As each day passes following the death of Charlie Kirk, it seems that the process of taking over the media has been put on an accelerated time table.  Media companies are getting snatched up by Trump friendly billionaires with each passing day, and soon there will be no dissenters remaining to speak truth to power.  Our freedom of speech will be severely threatened, and while the internet has become the home of free thinkers, even that won't be entirely safe much longer if this trend continues.  Imagine your social media feed getting moderated for content? Imagine your podcast, or blog being shut down because of your anti government speech.  I never thought any of this would touch our shores, but more and more I'm realizing this could actually happen here.  I'll continue to publish this podcast for as long as I can, and I will never bow to a dictator or authoritarian.  Peace and love,Jamie H. 

Unless you find yourself flush with cash, credit is something you're going to need at some point in your life.  You want to buy that house for $146,000? Well, unless you have that kind of cash lying around you're going to need to apply for a home loan, which is credit.  In the market for a new car? You're probably going to need credit to buy it, and the list goes on and on.  For something that's as important as credit, I'm shocked that so little time is spent educating ourselves on what it is, and how best to manage it. This episode of The Point of It All focuses on consumer credit, what goes into calculating your credit score, why your credit score is important, and some does an don'ts as you attempt to manage it. Dan Rodgers of Escape The Clock is based in Seattle, Washington where he runs a non-profit that educates folks just like you and I on how to manage debt in hopes of retiring early.  Dan also wrote a book of the same name Escape The Clock, and he offers free consumer counseling via Zoom for anyone with questions regarding they're financial health.  You can find all of the links below! I hope you enjoy  this episode, and I'd like to than Dan for coming on the show!www.escapetheclock.comEscape The Clock BookSchedule An Appointment with Dan

We're at a crossroads in our country where political speech is either tolerated, or extinguished with violence.  While I'd love to tell you there are brighter days ahead, the death of Charlie Kirk yesterday feels different.  There's almost certainly going to be a retaliation of some type, even as we learn the identity and motives of the assailant may have been steeped in Alt-Right culture and memes.    In this episode I talk with my nephew Patrick "PJ" Hunter about the death of Kirk and the direction of our country. I hope you enjoy it, and please hug your loved ones close!   Peace and love!

Long after I'm gone from this Earth the fate of this country will rest in the hands of people like my nephew, PJ Hunter.  He's in his early 30's, doing his best to live his version of the American dream, and he has concerns about the direction of our country.  We get into current events, the direction of the nation, and where we believe it will go from here.  I wouldn't be surprised if PJ had his own podcast at some point, as he has a great deal of knowledge on national and world events. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it! Peace!

I've often wondered what made the conditions in our politics such fertile ground for someone like Donald Trump to rise to power. In this episode of the podcast I attempt to answer that question with the help of Perry Constantine. Perry was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois but now lives in Japan, and works as a teacher. Perry's insights into American politics proved he was the perfect person to have this discussion with, as he effortlessly goes through our history of some of our Presidents from Nixon to Biden, and how they all played a part in our finally landing on Donald Trump. Perry has his on podcast, and is also a writer. If you're interested in checking out his work you can find the links below on his Link Tree page. https://linktr.ee/percivalconstantine?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=256148e6-7733-4fe5-a759-ff53a43ccb0bUntil the next episode, be well!  

How many times have you heard that relationships and politics don't mix, or that you shouldn't discuss politics at work? Well, I'd love to say these are both tenets that I live by, or advice that I take, but I'm a glutton for punishment! If you've every questioned your sanity while talking politics with family members, friends, or mates you are not alone. In this episode I have a conversation with Abby of the YouTube channel Political Psych With Abby which you can check out here. Is it just me or does Abby sound a lot like Dalia Lithwick? Either way, she has a great podcast voice, and her videos are very entertaining, so please check them out! I hope you guys enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it with Abby! Stay safe and please share The Point of It All podcast! 

I recorded my last episode just before the Presidential election in November. In the days immediately following November 6th I was already planning to record my next show to talk abut the election results, when I began to fall ill. This wasn't your run of the mill cold or flu. This was something I'd never faced before. After countless visits to the doctor, the ER, and even specialists I finally began to feel better after 2 months. You can ear all about my struggle in this episode before I dive into the train wreck that is this administration. I'm blessed to be among the living, and I'm ready for season 6 of The Point of It All! Thanks for listening!

In December of 2020 I contracted COVID-19. Because I'd managed to evade this disease for so long, I assumed I'd some how be immune. I won't say I was near death, but I've never been as sick in my entire life. Little did I know that I'd still be dealing with these symptoms 4 years later! Long COVID is real, and it affects millions of people world wide. In this episode I talk with Lisa from PA. Her form of long COVID is Mast Cell Activation Syndrome or MCAS. I hope you guys enjoy this episode, and a special thanks to Lisa for sharing her story! I hope this finds you well! Jamie

It's almost over! I don't know about you, but I'm ready for this election season to be done and over with. The negative ads, arguing with friends and family members over who they're supporting, and just the overall uneasiness that seems to have enveloped ever facet of our lives has become exhausting! Has it always been this way, or is this moment in our country different? In this episode I talk about the state of the race, and what I believe the outcome will be. I also talk about the hoax that is illegal immigration, and how we're all being taken for ride. Finally, I talk about the book Star Spangled Jesus by April Ajoy. It lightheartedly explains the appeal that "Trumpism" has to Christians by someone who was born and raised in the church. I highly encourage you to read it if you have any interest in discovering how so many of our Christian brother and sisters have fallen for Trump. Well, there's nothing else to do but listen to this podcast, and vote! Peace!

Today ADHD or Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is widely recognized as a legitimate condition that affects millions of people the world over, but this wasn't always the case. I remember it as a catch all diagnosis to explain away children with disciplinary issues, or who were failing in school. In this episode I wanted to dig a little deeper into this condition, and speak with someone that actually lived through it as a child, adult, and parent. Dustin Horvath is my guest for this episode. Diagnosed with ADHD early on in his childhood, Dustin shares his experiences with us, and what he's learned about ADHD along the way. Today he has his own consulting firm PCH-Consulting which you can learn more about here at www.pch-consulting.com.I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it with Dustin. 

It's hard to believe that the Israel-Palestine-Hamas conflict has been raging since October 7th of last year, but here we are with no end in sight. I'm always searching for information to help me better understand the origins of this conflict, hoping that the more I know will help me draft possible resolutions in my own mind. In this episode I got the chance to speak with someone who possesses a great deal of knowledge of the region, and the history of Israel. Srivats Lakshman is a freelance journalist currently living in Dubai and I'm grateful for him for giving me another prospective of this conflict. You can check out Srivat's writings here https://www.srivi20.com/. I'm not sure any closer to drafting a resolution for peace, but I did have a great time talking with Srivats! 

As my 3 part series on bullying comes to an end, this final episode features Krissy from the UK. Krissy survived bullying as a child, only to find herself as the bully later in adulthood. I found Krissy's story interesting because once you've been on the receiving end of bullying you tend to have empathy for others facing the same treatment, but it wasn't until later in Krissy's life that she realized bullying wasn't for her. I hope you enjoy this series and this episode as much as I have producing it. All of my guests were great sports for appearing on my show, and I appreciate them! Be nice to each other! Jamir

Every election cycle seems to divide our country more and more, and while I'd love to say things are different in 2024, I fear we are heading for even darker days. With an attempted assassination on former President Trump last Saturday, it's hard to imagine how things could possible get any worse, but with 4 months remaining before the election, the country is bracing itself for what's next. How does it end? Where do we go from here? In this podcast I provide an update to where things stand, and where we're headed as a country. Stay safe out there, folks!

It never occurred to me that bullying might be different in other cultures, but that's exactly what I found out while talking to "Joe," my guest on this episode about bullying. Joe is from Malaysia, and the world he describes is eat or be eaten. If you aren't the bully, then you're the one getting bullied. Growing up in a boarding school may have had something to do with this way of life, as he was always defending himself from other bullies, so he felt he had no choice but to become a bully himself. I hope you enjoy this episode, and please be nice to one another. :)

While I was doing my research for the topic on bullying, one thing became very clear early on in the process.  The vast majority of us has experience with bullying. Weather it was as a bystander watching the other guy get pummeled daily, or the parent wondering how to handle their child bulling someone else's child in school, just about all of us has a story to tell about bullying.  I was curious to hear how other people dealt with bullying regardless of the station from which they experienced it. This is a series on bullying, and my first guest is Quinn. He goes by the moniker EDOKWIN on all of his social media channels, so he should be pretty easy to find. Quinn was larger than most of his classmates, but that didn't spare him from bullying, albeit on a cerebral, rather than physical level. You can check out Quinn's Substack HERE and you can follow him on Twitter HERE. Lastly, I wanted to put a face with each story about bullying, so the "album art" for each of these episodes will include the guests photo when permitted. I  hope you guys enjoy this first episode in this series about bullying! Jamie

Here are some quick facts about prostate cancer: An estimated 164,690 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. The average age of diagnosis is 66. The disease rarely occurs before the age of 40. For unknown reasons, the risk of prostate cancer is 74% higher in Black men than in non-Hispanic white men. African-American men are more than twice as likely to die from prostate cancer.Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the US.Every 45 minutes one man dies from prostate cancer - that's more than 12,000 men every year.1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.I thought this was the best way to show just how prevalent this disease is among the African American male community. I find it interesting that we still don't know why it attacks this segment of our community more than others. My guest on this episode is Larry Jero, who battled prostate cancer twice! In this podcast Larry shares with me what it was like to be diagnosed, how he prepared to battle it, and what his life has been like since then. Larry also has his own podcast called Civil Rhetoric, and you can check it out here. 

Season 5 of The Point of It All podcast is here, but it almost didn't happen. In fact I was going to end the show after last season's final episode because I was burnt out! There's quite a bit of work that goes into producing a podcast, and quite frankly I didn't have the energy until now. In this first episode of season 5 I talk about the state of our union, particularly as it relates to our political discourse, the upcoming election season, and the safeguards we have in place to prevent our Democracy from falling. Please share the love for the podcast if you like what you hear! It's good to be back. :)

Four years after winning Master Chef Season 10, my sister Dorian Hunter has been busting her butt to parlay that win into something even bigger. In this episode we talk with Chef Dorian about the concept of the book, the struggles she had to endure to complete it, and that cover photo! 😂 It's such a joy seeing your family do great things, and there's seemingly no stopping Team Dorian! You can buy a copy of the book by clicking HERE.  This book makes for a perfect gift not only for fans of Dorian, but also for the wonderful food! 

Admittedly so I was ignorant to the details of this conflict, but over the last couple of days I made a concerted effort to learn more about the history of this battle, and the more I learned the more my opinion moved regarding who's right and who's wrong. My concern is that the news coverage has been 95 percent pro Jewish, and 5 percent Palestine.  But even the pro Palestine coverage always seems to come with a caveat that the Jews are the victims, when in reality both sides can claim victimhood. In this podcast I once again call on the knowledge of Kevin Maley of the podcast Zip Code Zero, which you can check out here. Kevin delves into the origin story of this disputed land, how we came to the place we are today, some historical comparisons with other oppressed groups in the world's history, and finally a way forward.  It was a great conversation, and I hope you enjoy it. 

I love following politics. I like the back and forth between elected officials, and watching democracy in action.  But I've made a concerted effort not to make my podcast all about politics because that'd be taking the easy way out, and no one wants to listen to a podcast about saving Democracy on every episode any way. However, we are at time in our country's story where voter apathy could have long lasting effects on our future. I want to cover political topics that will drive more people to the polls, or encourage more folks to take a part in our Democracy.In this episode I talk to Kevin Maley of the podcast Zip Code Zero. You can find it on all of the major podcast platforms including Spotify and iTunes.  He covers a lot of politics, and since he lives in DC who better to have on my show than a real insider. You can also check out Kevin's Substack here.   I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed producing it!

I've always admired authors.  There's just something about creating a piece of work, then putting it on display for the world to see.  Opening yourself up to all manners of criticism along the way can be quite a daunting proposition for most of us, and I suppose I do the same thing with my podcast, but it's different with written work.  I always felt more vulnerable presenting written pages to the public than any other type of medium.  In this episode I speak to Warren Gordon. He just published his first book Over Time, and I think it deserves your attention. You can check out the book for yourself by clicking on the links below. Warren is also a public speaker, and if you'd like to book him for an event his contact information is here as well.  I hope you enjoy this episode!Warren GordonFacebook: Flawed Thoughts InkInstagram: Flawed_Thoughts_InkEmail Address: [email protected] to Buy: Direct Message to "Flawed Thoughts Ink" on FB; lulu.com; bn.com

When I sent out a call for a guest to talk about living through periods of homelessness, I received many offers to come on my podcast. Gregorio's story offered much more than living homeless, as you'll learn by listening to this episode.  Gregorio, an author of 3 books written to help others deal with depression and other mental issues was one of my more memorable guests.  Beginning with his early childhood, he's been through quite a bit, but he's come out on the other side still fighting one day at a time.  I like Gregorio's story because it proves my point that you don't know why someone is homeless until you learn the story.  There's not one back story that fits every homeless person, so exercise compassion when you meet them.  If you'd like to learn more about my guest Gregorio Lewis  or to purchase his books you can reach him at his website here:  https://sanityisafulltimejob.org/collections/booksI hope you enjoy this episode! Jamie Hunter

I follow politics pretty closely, and while I had a pretty good idea of what "Gerrymandering" is I still learned a few things from my guest, high school government teacher Patrick Creedy.  Patrick has been teaching for 20+ years, and he was really able to go into great detail regarding Gerrymandering. on this podcast.  If you've heard the term on TV, but didn't really grasp the concept, have a listen to this episode learn all about Gerrymandering, and why it's horrible for our Democracy. Patrick and his wife have their own podcast called Mistopian, where they cover products and ideas that we all thought were going to change our lives, such as the flying car, but most of these never even got off the ground. See what I did there? Their podcast is hilarious, and he and his wife share a great chemistry, so check them out! 

I've had many guests on my show, but Tahilla stands out as she's the first person that I've spoke to from Israel.  As a former member of the Israeli national judo team, she has an interesting story to tell.  In this conversation we talked about her time in the Israeli army, and finally we talk about her career as a homeopath.  If you'd like to seek Tahilla out for her services you can reach her at the links below.Website: https://www.Bio4biz.comWebsite: https://www.homeopatya.co.il/enLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tehillaaloni/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tehilla.aloniInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tehilla.aloni/Youtube: https://www.youtube@tehilla_aloni

If you spend enough time on Twitter and Facebook you'll never have a shortage of folks screaming about the need for a civil war, and how it's just time for this country to split along ideological factions.  I can't help but laugh because while these folks may think they're ready to go to war, they have no idea what they'd face if a civil war was to break out. In this episode of The Point of It All, complete with sound effects and a lot of laughing,  I attempt to douse some water on the ill-informed and attempt to enlighten them as to some of the things they should expect if this country were to go south, so to speak.  I had a blast recording this episode, and my guest Larry from CA was a big part of that! I'm looking forward to your own podcast, Larry! 😁We should all want peace, not war! Enjoy! 

The fact that we're still debating the concept of global warming is in and of itself a failure of mankind.  We've been told not to trust science, and that we should question everything we've learned about global warming up to this point.  However, after all the data has been parsed, and it consistently points to these weather phenomena's as global warming related when do we start to listen? Is it too late to make a difference? What can you do today that might have even have a miniscule effect on global warming? In this episode I have a conversation with Eric and Lucas of the Broken Shovel podcast, which you can find wherever you get your podcast fix.  We discuss what homesteading is, the benefits, and how you can get started.  We also delve into global warming and whether or not it is simply too late for us to make any significant difference at this point. 

Whenever I hear the term "life coach" I'm often left thinking about Tony Robbins, and his hilarious cameo in the movie Shallow Hal.  Obviously there's more to being a life coach than what we see from Tony Robbins, so in this episode I get to speak with Daniel Gray, who is just beginning his career as a life coach. We talk about what a life coach means to him, why he got into the field, and we even touch on battling depression. If you'd like to seek Danie's services he's best reached on Instagram at danielgray,llc

I've been a general manager for well over 20 years, and just when I was beginning to think I had this profession pretty well in hand, COVID-19 struck.  Just like that everything I thought I knew was not longer applicable.  My "old school" style of management was not longer going to work with this new post COVID workplace.  Employees that I've know for years were not longer willing to put forth the same level of effort, and how could I blame them?  There were some horrible policies that we were forced to work under all in the name of keeping the doors open. For this episode I sought HR Generalist Asia Corielle who shared some best practices for managing under these new rules of engagement. I'd like to thank Asia for taking the time to have this conversation with me.  Finally, in the beginning of this episode I said this was the 4 episode, but as it turns out it's the 5th. Lesson learned! I hope you enjoy this episode and please share with your family and friends! 

Well, after a much need break away from the podcast I am back and hopefully better than ever! I've spent this time away to work on my YouTube channel, which you can check out here https://youtube.com/@thepointofitall7975. In this half episode I discuss a few current events that have occurred while I've been away, as well as some topics for upcoming shows I'm working on.  It's good to be back! Thanks for listening, and please share the love of The Point of It All! 😁

I won't pretend to have all of the answers when it comes to putting an end to mass shootings, but I refuse to throw up my hands in exasperation claiming there's nothing anyone can do! This podcast is a result of my complete and utter disgust with the portion of our population that has decided they'd rather sacrifice babies in school for they're unfettered access to weapons of war.  I am convinced that we are better than this!

As Americans we tend to take our access to healthcare for granted. If we get hurt we call 9-1-1. If we become ill we rush to the emergency room, or make an appointment with our doctor, but there are millions of people around the world without this on demand access to medical care.  Instead, they rely on organizations like Operation International who's mission is to provide medical care to these less fortunate world cititzens.  My friend Chasidy Szerokman recently returned from her own trip with Operation International, and in this podcast she shares with us her experience from the very beginning to the end of her trip.  If you're interested in learning more about Operation International, you can visit their website at www.operationinternational.org.   Chasidy as also offered to field any questions you might have if you're interested in going on your own trip with the organization. You can reach her via email at [email protected]

I've been able to meet some pretty cool people as a host of this podcast, but perhaps none as cool the guest on this show.  I've heard about housesitting as a way to help out a friend or relative, but as a way of life? No way! Well, it turns out it's actually a pretty big thing, and after speaking with Brittnay Sharman I can see why.  If you're the adventurous type and you're already keen to traveling around, why not take advantage of free accommodations once you get to your destination?  The host family leaves on holiday knowing their home will be looked after, and you get to stay in a home that you could perhaps only dream of! It's truly a win/win situation! If you're interested in learning more about getting started in your own housesitting adventures click on the links below, and Brittnay Sharman will show you how to get started!https://www.thetravellinghousesitters.com/start-house-sitting/https://www.thetravellinghousesitters.com/our-favourite-house-sitting-websites/https://www.facebook.com/groups/thetravellinghousesittersgroup/

Since I began my weight loss journey over two years ago, I still get questions about how I did it, and how I've managed to keep it off.  I share my strategy for lasting weight loss, along with some traps you want to avoid.  If you haven't heard of Samara Joy you don't know what you're missing! She's only 23 years old, and has seemingly mastered the sound of jazz standards. I can't wait to see her live and in person! She's actually performing at this years Grammys!This whole secret document nonsense has gone too far! Perhaps we should all check under our mattresses for top secret files!  Will it ever end!?!? 

This podcast has always had a focus on helping others, and in this first episode of season 4 I hope to build on that premise.  Ivy Chandler, MSW, LISW-S, experienced an unbelievably difficult childhood, but she made it through and shares it all in this book Wait! I Wasn't Ready: Hope & Healing Recovery from Childhood Trauma.  This book epitomizes the saying "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!" Some of the situations Ivy found herself in as a child and young adult will leave your mouth agape.  You can purchase her book here https://a.co/d/6rvUorX, and Ivy can also be reached here if you'd like to avail yourself of her services. www.livinwellcounseling.com. Finally, you can reach Ivy via email here for questions and answers: [email protected] season we are introducing video podcasts that are going to be available on our YouTube channel! You can find the first one here: https://youtu.be/K-HX89jCDzs

Hello, and welcome to Episode 8 of season 3!  Change is inevitable, and how we choose to deal with that eventuality comes out in different ways for each of us.  Archie Bunker's defense mechanism was racism and chauvinism, but he also lacked empathy. In this episode I wonder how Archie would have been different if he'd just embraced that change and empathized with those who instead drew his ire.  My hiring drought continues, but I no longer believe it's because this new generation is lazy. I think it's because they're not longer ambitious, and these are two entirely different things.  Finally, I break some really big news!  Have a listen and find out what it is!  Happy Countdown To Christmas!Jamie HunterThe Point of It All

I just checked the last date of my last episode, and it was June 12, 2022! That's close to two and a half months ago, which makes this my longest break between  episodes!  It wasn't my intention to take this much time off, but it was much needed. As you all know life waits for no one. You have to take it any what it comes to you, so I've been busy taking care of life. In this episode I catch up on what's been going on with me, as well as what's happing around the country. Our politics are still a hot mess! General Russell Honore has entered the Twitter battlefield on the side of progressives, and my wife is my real hero! Listen in to find out more about these topics, and I'll catch you for the next episode! 

Happy 4th of July to everyone! I hope you spent it safe and out of trouble! In this 6th episode of season 3 I talk about the state of the union, and my outlook is not good to say the least.  Every Democracy is only a few election cycles away from failing, and I fear that our own is on the verge of exactly that. What will it take to turn things around?  Also, for the first time in my 20+ years of being a general manager, interviewed someone that identifies as the opposite sex, and it was quite an eye opening experience! I hope you guys enjoy this episode!  Stay safe!

Happy summer to you and your families! I hope yours is getting off to as good a start as mine! As you hit the road and enjoy the great weather, let's not forget those suffering in Uvalde, Texas after yet another mass shooting. I discuss our way forward, and the early news of an agreement reached between senators.  I also talk about the impending abortion rights ruling by the Supreme Court.  It should be coming down any day, and it will mark the end of Roe v. Wade. Finally, I talk about the rising fuel prices and how my family is coping.  The bad news is the prices are expected to keep rising. What are we going to do? I hope you enjoy the podcast. Please be safe this summer, take care of yourselves and each other! Jamie Hunter

Valerie's freshmen effort Girls Like Me focuses on careers in the STEM field that have traditionally been underrepresented by minority women, but as you'll learn in the podcast minority representation in these fields is actually decreasing, which makes this book a very timely piece of literature.  Kids our visual, and Valerie's book shows black women in these uniforms, which will certainly pique the interests of both children and adults. Valerie is also passionate about helping other budding authors get off to a successful start by hosting her own video segment on Instagram that brings other authors together to share their stories of success, as well as some do's and don'ts they learned along the way.  You can check out Valeries videos on Instagram and Facebook by following @authorvaleriethompkins. If you would like to reach Valerie directly via email for consultation, her email address is [email protected]

What happens when you're "un-friended" or blocked on Facebook?  Turns out not a whole heck of a lot. I hope you'll find my tale as interesting as I did!  I also talk some March Madness (Let's Go Duke) and how the sport changed from when I was a child.  Men's shoulder bags are not just fashionable, but they're also practical.  I'm on a quest to remove the stigma that surrounds them, and I refuse to call them a "murse". Does anyone remember when the news was only the news, and not a block of entertainment? I certainly do, and I'm convinced there's still an audience for this old school approach.  I talk how it isn't the news producer's job to try to sway you one way or other.  Let the facts speak for themselves! 

In this podcast I talk about adding new equipment to improve my production levels. Going forward I'll be implementing real time sound effects, which I hope will add some character to the podcast.  I've also added a new mic, and a an audio mixer, so I'll be interested in hearing your feedback on the improvements I've made.  Speaking of improvements I've also created a new email address specifically for The Point of It All Podcast.  The new email address is [email protected].  Please send any correspondence there!  The Ukraine conflict is showing all the signs of spiraling out of control, and into an all out world war!  I talk about why we shouldn't get any more involved than we already have, and why we as a nation should maybe stop with all of the "Russia evil, we're great" antics. Our own hands aren't entirely clean... Finally, I talk about weather or not listening to an audio book is the same as reading an actual book.  Clearly there's only one right answer here... 😂I hope you enjoy it, and as always pass the word around if you like what you hear! Jamie,Host of The Point of It All podcast

In this inaugural episode of season 3, I talk about the celebrities we've last over the last 6 months, as well as my own horrific ending to the 2021!  COVID is for real, and I had to contract it to find this out. Insert eye roll emoji here.  I survived, but there are still lingering side effects that I'm still living with 60 days later!  Do yourself a favor and get vaccinated.  Finally, I talk about hiring and firing during this COVID-19 environment.  Hope you guys enjoy season 3 as much as I did the first two!  Here's to many more episodes to come! Cheers!

When I hear the term "personal trainer" I automatically think of movie stars, professional athletes, and other celebrities.  It was always a service that seemed beyond my reach, but as it turns out that doesn't have to be our reality.  In this episode of The Point of It All I had a conversation with a real-life personal trainer, Jordan Horning out of Cincinnati, Ohio and she was able to shed some light on her profession, and more importantly just how accessible it really is for anyone to take advantage of a personal trainer.  If you'd like to take advantage of Jordan's services, you can reach her on Instagram at @jrenereliance or by email: [email protected] I spoke with Jordan, I talked a little about Thanksgiving and my killer cornbread dressing I made, with the inspiration of my mom!  I also talked about the firing of Chris Cuomo by CNN, and the most recent school shooting that took place in Michigan. The Point of It All is now available on Amazon's network!  If you get content from Amazon Music or Audible you can now hear our podcast in those places as well!  If you like what you hear please continue to follow and share the love...I mean link. :) Until next time, be well.Jamie HunterHost: The Point of It All 

After a 30 day gap between episodes I sure did have a lot to say!  I haven't talked politics on the podcast in over a year, so I thought it was time to go over the current state of our union.  It's pretty grim, folks!  At some point we're going to have to learn how to speak to each other, rather than yell and scream.  There is common ground if we'd only look for it.It's Christmas time, and that means Hallmark Christmas movies are playing 24/7 in my house.  Well, at least in which ever room I happen to be in.  Yes, I know they always have the same plot lines, and they always have the same ending, but I don't care!  I absolutely love them! 😂I hope you enjoy this episode, and I'll have another ready well before Christmas!  Happy Thanksgiving, folks!  

I'm going to share with you guys my own personal story regarding food, body image, weight loss, and my eventual triumph over all 3.  I'm willing to bet that my story is very similar to others, and my hope is that after hearing mine you'll find the confidence to do the same.  My story began in the 7th or 8th grade, walking down the halls of Crenshaw Junior High heading to my next class.  Who knew what should have been an insignificant off the cuff "chide" from a fellow classmate would have such a profound effect on the rest of my life? Words matter, people! I've also been doing some homework by listening to other podcasts, and I came across one titled "Was I In A Cult?"  The idea of being in a cult has never been more hysterically funny than this, so check it out this podcast if you're a fan of Mystery Science Theatre and all of it's "snarkiness".  

 This is our third tech spot segment, and we're talking about Microsoft's newest Surface devices.  I've long been a fan of Microsoft's Surface line of products, and after watching yesterday's big reveals I don't see my enthusiasm waning any time soon. While there were several products announced I have my eyes on two devices in particular. The Microsoft Surface Duo 2, and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, the latter of which just blew my mind! 

Mental health is a topic that isn't on the tops of most of our lists to discuss, and suicide prevention is even lower, but that's slowly been changing over the years.  More and more celebrities are talking about their own mental health struggles, and as Monique accurately pointed out the COVID-19 pandemic placed the subject front and center weather we wanted to discuss it or not.  Monique Phifer is a licensed independent social worker, with a supervisor designation.  She also holds a Masters Degree in social work, as well as a  Bachelor's degree in psychology from Youngstown State. Monique runs an LLC called Solutions for the Silent, and her website is www.solutionsforthesilent.com.  She specializes in traditional and Christian counseling.  You can find more contact information for Monique on the podcast's website.  This is suicide prevention week, so if you or someone you know is thinking about harming themselves there are resources for you.  The national suicide prevention hotline is 800-273-8255.  

Labor Day weekend is upon us, and it usually signifies the end of Summer for a lot of us.  It marks the last time we will get together with family and friends around the grill, sharing stories about COVID-19 and all of the other craziness happening in the world!  In this episode Amber I talk about a new Seafood restaurant I tried over the weekend, crunchy water melon, and the insanity that is the new Texas abortion law.  This is also the episode that I unveil a new segment called "The Point of It All Tech Spot".  Okay, so maybe the name of the segment is a work in progress, but I hope you guys enjoy it.  In this first episode I talk about the Microsoft Surface Duo smart phone and how some owners are down right fanatical when it comes to defending their purchase.  Be sure to check out the companion blog for the podcast as well.  You'll find links to topics we discussed on the show as well any resources I can think of to add.  Happy Labor Day to you guys and thanks for listening!