Still Here, Still Trying

Everybody looks fine until you realize most people are surviving quietly.This week’s episode almost didn’t happen. I was tired, late, and running on fumes, which made me realize that might be the exact thing worth talking about.In this episode of Still Here, Still Trying, I talk about the kind of exhaustion people carry when life keeps asking more from them than they’ve had time to recover from. The kind of tired that doesn’t always look like falling apart. Sometimes it looks like showing up, answering the email, taking care of the people you love, leading through pressure, and laughing when you still have a little bit left.This one is for the quiet heroes. The people doing the real work without applause. The people who keep caring when cynicism would be easier. The people who are tired as hell, but still getting back up.We also talk a little playoff hockey, because Vegas and Colorado are about to beat the brakes off each other and somehow that feels spiritually connected to the whole episode.If you’re worn out, overwhelmed, or wondering whether you still have enough left to keep going, this episode is for you.You’re tired.You’re human.You’re not done.Still here. Still trying.

Episode 48 | Season 2, Episode 4 Beautifully Unfocused: How to Love Someone With ADHDIf you love someone with ADHD, there’s a good chance you’ve misunderstood them at least once.And if you have ADHD, there’s a good chance you’ve spent a lot of your life feeling misunderstood before anyone ever asked what was actually happening inside you.This episode is a field guide from the inside.I’m talking about the shame of being the ADHD kid, the one who heard “could do better” so often it started to feel like a name. The kid who got called disruptive, lazy, careless, dramatic, too much, or not living up to their potential, when what they really needed was language, support, and someone willing to ask a better question.We get into the “too many tabs open” feeling, executive dysfunction, rejection sensitivity, disappearing when overwhelmed, and why a delayed text or strange tone can hit like proof of every old fear.We also talk about love.Because ADHD is not only chaos. It is deep feeling, big ideas, late-night creativity, strange brilliance, missed signals, real regret, and a brain that can build whole worlds while still struggling with the simple thing in front of it.This episode is also for spouses, partners, parents, friends, coworkers, and anyone trying to love someone whose brain does not move in straight lines. Sometimes when we share a song, lyric, image, or creative idea, we are not only showing you a project. We are showing you where the noise went. We are asking to be seen.And we talk about women and ADHD too. Girls and women have been missed for too long. ADHD can look like anxiety, perfectionism, masking, people-pleasing, emotional overwhelm, exhaustion, and holding everything together until the whole system starts to crack.This is not a medical lecture. This is not an excuse factory.ADHD does not give us a free pass to hurt people, avoid repair, ignore responsibilities, or make everyone else manage the fallout.But shame does not fix ADHD.Understanding helps. Clarity helps. Systems help. Curiosity helps. Repair helps.This episode ties into my album Beautifully Unfocused and closes with the song “ADHD Kid,” written for the younger version of us who spent too much time apologizing for a brain that was also building something beautiful.We are beautifully unfocused.We are learning.We are building.And somehow, through all of it, we are still here, still trying.

Episode 47 | Season 2, Episode 3 Build Your Life, But Don’t Lose Your SoulEverybody loves the message: build your life, chase the dream, start the thing, stop waiting.I do too.But there’s a harder question underneath all that ambition:What kind of person are you becoming while you build?In this episode, I’m talking about ambition, power, men, women, leadership, and the ugly truth that some people chase success so hard they leave their character behind. We get into the difference between confidence and contempt, strength and control, leadership and ego, and why the people with power teach the rest of the room what behavior gets rewarded.This conversation looks at the way powerful men often model contempt as strength, especially toward women, and why the people around them who laugh, excuse, translate, and protect that behavior become part of the problem too. But this is bigger than politics. It’s about every room where power gets used badly: workplaces, families, healthcare, leadership teams, comment sections, and communities.And yes, we talk honestly about men.Men who interrupt. Men who dismiss. Men who turn accountability into a personal attack. Men who confuse being loud with being strong.But I’m not coming at this as some perfect man who has it all figured out. I don’t. I’ve moved too fast. I’ve missed things. I’ve talked when I should have listened longer. I’ve had moments where my intensity landed harder than I intended. I’m still learning, still catching myself, still trying to lead better and listen better.That’s part of the point.This episode is not about shame. It’s about responsibility.We also talk about the men trying to do better. The men learning to listen. The men willing to be corrected. The men trying to raise sons who don’t mistake dominance for strength and daughters who don’t have to fight to be heard.And we make room for the nuance too: toxic power is not only a male problem. Women can bully too. Women can tear other women down. Bad leadership, narcissism, insecurity, and cruelty show up in more than one form.Build your life. Please do.Start the project. Take the risk. Make the art. Apply for the job. Chase what keeps calling you.But don’t build a life that makes people smaller when they get close.Don’t build a life that leaves others carrying the emotional cost of your ambition.Don’t build a life people have to recover from.This episode closes with my song “Stop Making Amy Cry,” a reminder that the kindest people often carry the weight of a world that keeps asking too much from them.We’re still here.Still trying.

The Real Cost of Always Being RightWhat if the thing you’re most certain about is quietly costing you the people you care about?In this episode of Still Here, Still Trying, I get into something that’s been bothering me more and more. The way certainty has taken over how we think, how we talk, and how we show up with each other. It feels like strength in the moment. It feels like clarity. But underneath that, something else is happening that most of us aren’t paying attention to.We’re reacting faster, listening less, and deciding who people are before we’ve actually taken the time to understand them. Over time, that starts to change our relationships, our leadership, and the way people experience us.This isn’t about politics. It’s about what all of this is doing to you.I walk through what this looks like in real life, why certainty feels so good even when it’s hurting us, how social media and algorithms are feeding it every single day, and what it actually takes to break out of it without losing your voice or your convictions.This one gets honest. It gets a little uncomfortable. And it might hit closer to home than you expect.I close the episode with my song Manufactured Panic from the album Shut Out the Noise, which captures what it feels like to live in a constant state of urgency and how to step out of it.If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation feeling like you won the point but lost something else, this one’s for you.🎧 Listen now and see what shows up for you.Here's the link to my shop with t-shirts and other cool stuff to help you live in the middle.. https://mike-baker-hq.printify.me

I almost quit paying attention to all of this.Not life. Not my work. Not my family. Just the noise. The constant pressure to pick a side. The way conversations turn into fights before they even begin.Something feels off right now.And if you sit in it long enough, it starts changing you.This episode kicks off Season 2 of Still Here, Still Trying. It’s not polished or balanced for the sake of it. It’s just honest.We’re talking about what’s actually happening right now. The division. The outrage. The way both sides, in different ways, are feeding the same machine. And more importantly, what that’s doing to us as people. As leaders. As parents. As neighbors.This season is anchored in one idea.Human First.Before the labels. Before the sides. Before the blame.Because if we lose that, we lose more than arguments.We lose each other.At the end of this episode, I leave you with my song Human First.That song matters to me right now more than when I first released it. It came from normal, everyday moments. Looking people in the eye. Small conversations. The kind of connection that still exists if you slow down long enough to notice it.It’s a reminder that before the opinions, before the arguments, before whatever box someone gets put in, there’s a real person there.That’s the anchor for this season.If this hits something real for you, you’re not alone.And this is just the start.Next episode, we take this one step closer to home and talk about what all of this is doing to us personally, and the real cost of always needing to be right.🎧 Listen to my music, including Human First, on all streaming platformsSearch Mike Baker wherever you listen🎥 Creators, use my music in your contentSearch Mike Baker in IG, TikTok, and YouTube audio libraries👕 Human First + “Hate Is the Distraction” merchhttps://mike-baker-hq.printify.me/category/all/1Wear the reminder. Stay grounded. Stay human.👍 If this resonated, follow, like, and share. That’s how this grows.

Episode 44: What People Need Most Right NowThe world feels loud right now.People are stressed, tired, overloaded, and trying to function while carrying more than they are saying out loud. In this episode of Still Here, Still Trying, Mike Baker talks about what people need most right now, and it is not another hot take, another lecture, or one more person yelling into the noise.It is to be heard.This episode digs into the quiet damage that happens when people stop feeling heard, why so many of us have learned to edit ourselves just to make the room more comfortable, and how real listening can become its own kind of shelter in a world that feels unstable. Mike talks about emotional overload, loneliness, burnout, dark humor, fear, and the pressure to keep functioning while everything feels a little too heavy. He also gets into the healing power of finally being able to tell the truth without being rushed, fixed, or talked over.If you have been feeling numb, disconnected, exhausted, emotionally fried, or like you are carrying more than anybody around you fully sees, this one is for you.Mike closes the episode with “Feel Something Again” from the new album Shut Out the Noise, a song about moving through the static, coming back to yourself, and letting real feeling back in. If this conversation hits something deep, stay for the song. It lands right where this episode lives.And if you want to support the show in another way, the new Still Here, Still Trying and Mike Baker HQ t-shirts are out now too, including designs like This Is the Distraction, Divide. Distract. Control., and Hate Is the Distraction. They are bold, sharp, and built to say something real. https://mike-baker-hq.printify.me/category/all/1If this episode means something to you, follow on YouTube and Spotify, share it with somebody who needs it, and help keep this thing growing.Still here. Still trying.#StillHereStillTrying #MikeBaker #WhatPeopleNeedMostRightNow #FeelSomethingAgain #ShutOutTheNoise #MentalHealthPodcast #BeingHeard #EmotionalHealing #Burnout #Stress #Loneliness #Healing #Connection #Podcast #NewMusic #TShirts

The Moment I Realized This Wasn’t NormalI went to the Endo Summit thinking I’d learn more about endometriosis. What I didn’t expect was to walk out of there thinking about something way bigger.This one stuck with me.Not because of one moment. Not because of one story. It was the pattern. The same thing showing up over and over in different ways.Women being told their pain is normal.Being told to wait.Being told some version of “you’ll be fine” while they’re sitting there knowing something isn’t right.And after hearing it enough times, you start to realize… this isn’t a one-off problem.This is happening everywhere.And it doesn’t stop with endometriosis.You see it with POTS.You see it with EDS.You see it with adenomyosis.You see it with perimenopause and menopause.Different labels, same experience.Trying to explain what’s happening in your own body and not being taken seriously the first time you say it.This one gets personal for me too.I talk about my daughter, my wife, and what it’s like watching people you love try to navigate something that doesn’t always have clear answers.And I share a message I got that hit harder than I expected. The kind that reminds you this stuff reaches way further than you think.There’s no polished takeaway here.Just something I can’t get out of my head:It wasn’t normal.If you’ve ever felt dismissed, or you love someone who has, this one’s for you.And stick around at the end… I’m closing this one out with a track that hits this theme head on.Still here.Still trying.

What happens when you’re the one everyone depends on… but you don’t feel okay yourself?In this episode of Still Here, Still Trying, Mike Baker gets honest about something millions of people are feeling right now but rarely say out loud. The pressure to stay strong. The weight of responsibility. The quiet exhaustion that comes from showing up every day while carrying more than anyone sees.If you’ve been feeling tired, stretched thin, or just a little off but can’t explain why… this episode will hit home.Mike shares real reflections from leadership, fatherhood, and creative life, exploring what it means to be the “strong one” in a world that doesn’t slow down. This conversation goes beyond surface-level motivation and digs into emotional burnout, mental load, and the gap between how we feel and how we present ourselves.You’ll hear: • Why high-performing people often feel the most exhausted • The hidden cost of always being the reliable one • How to carry pressure without losing yourself • Why “getting through the day” is sometimes a real win • A more honest way to think about strength, resilience, and mental healthThis episode also explores the bigger picture… how stress, division, and constant noise in today’s world are affecting all of us more than we realize, even when we think we’re handling it.If you’re trying to stay grounded, lead well, take care of your family, and still figure out your own life at the same time… this conversation is for you.You’re not behind.You’re not broken.You’re carrying a lot… and you’re still showing up.And that matters.🎧 Listen if you’re: • Feeling overwhelmed but still pushing through • A leader, parent, or high performer carrying invisible pressure • Dealing with burnout, stress, or emotional fatigue • Trying to balance success, purpose, and real life • Looking for honest conversations about mental health and resilience📢 If this episode resonates:Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear something real today.That’s how this grows.mental health, emotional burnout, stress, resilience, leadership pressure, high performer burnout, mental load, self awareness, personal growth, real talk podcast, mindset, anxiety, motivation, life balance

Does Any of This Actually Matter Anymore?That question shows up for a lot of people who are trying to build something meaningful. You’re putting energy into your work, your family, your ideas, your community. You show up every day and try to do things the right way. And somewhere along the line a quiet thought crosses your mind. Is any of this effort actually reaching anyone?In Episode 41 of Still Here, Still Trying, Mike Baker sits with that question. Not from a place of defeat, but from the honest middle ground where most real life happens. The middle where the work is steady, the world is loud, and the results are not always obvious yet.Mike talks about the strange tension between wanting your work to matter and living in a time where attention is scattered everywhere. He reflects on leadership, creativity, raising kids who are now grown, and the quiet moments where you start wondering whether the things you are building are landing anywhere.The conversation leads into the story behind the song “A Song Nobody Hears,” written during a late night drive when Mike was wrestling with the exact question this episode explores. The song became the centerpiece of a five-song EP written in one burst of reflection about invisibility, effort, and why people keep creating even when the world seems distracted.This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered if their work matters, if their voice is reaching anyone, or if the effort they are putting into their life is making a difference.Sometimes the most meaningful work feels invisible while you are doing it. But that does not mean it isn’t shaping the world around you.Listen in for a thoughtful conversation about quiet impact, creative doubt, leadership, and why the work that matters most rarely announces itself in real time.At the end of the episode, Mike shares “A Song Nobody Hears,” a raw reflection on creativity, fatherhood, identity, and the hope that honest work eventually reaches someone who needs it.If this episode resonates with you, follow Still Here, Still Trying with Mike Baker on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube and share the conversation with someone who might need to hear it.Still here.Still trying.

The Quiet Sabotage: Passive-Aggressive and Avoidant PatternsPodcast DescriptionEarlier this year, Mike Baker began a series inside Still Here, Still Trying exploring the personality patterns that shape relationships, leadership, and the environments we live and work in.The first conversation in the series, “God Complex: Narcissism in Life and Leadership,” looked at the louder pattern. Ego, control, and the need to dominate the room.This episode turns to something quieter… and often more confusing.Passive-aggressive and avoidant behavior.The moments when someone says everything is fine, but their actions tell a completely different story. Agreement without commitment. Sarcasm instead of honesty. Silence used as control. Resistance that shows up sideways instead of being spoken out loud.In this episode Mike explores:• Why passive-aggressive patterns develop• How fear and conflict avoidance shape behavior• What these patterns look like in families, friendships, and workplaces• The quiet damage they cause to trust and communication• How leaders and individuals respond with clarity instead of escalationThis conversation is part of a broader Personality Patterns series Mike is building this year as he develops ideas for his next book on human-first leadership.No diagnoses.No labels.Just honest exploration of behaviors that shape how people connect, lead, and build trust.The episode closes with Mike’s song “Scared People Build Walls,” a reflection on how fear can lead people to protect themselves in ways that ultimately push connection away.If this episode resonates with you, follow the show and share it with someone who cares about building healthier relationships and stronger teams.Still here.Still trying.

Episode 39: Guarding Your MindEverything around us seems designed to pull our attention into chaos.Open your phone and the loudest voices rise to the top. Every problem feels urgent. Every headline demands a reaction. Over time, that constant pressure starts to feel normal, even though it slowly drains the clarity we need to live well and lead well.In this episode, Mike talks about the quiet discipline of guarding your mind.Not by ignoring the world. Not by pretending problems don’t exist. But by deciding what deserves your attention and what doesn’t.Calm has become rare. Steadiness has become powerful. The people who learn how to protect their focus, their perspective, and their humanity are the ones who stay grounded while everything around them spins.Mike reflects on the pressure many people feel to carry the weight of everything happening in the world and why that burden was never meant to sit on one person’s shoulders. He talks about the difference between caring and carrying it all, and why protecting your mind is one of the most important forms of leadership today.This episode explores:• Why the modern attention economy thrives on panic• How constant outrage distorts our view of reality• The discipline of choosing what deserves your energy• Why calm leadership matters more than loud leadership• How ordinary people protect their humanity in a noisy worldThis conversation is about perspective, responsibility, and the quiet strength it takes to stay steady when everything around you feels heavy.Mike closes the episode with his song “The World Is Heavy, But We Are Not.”A reminder that while the world can feel overwhelming, human beings were built to bend, breathe, and keep going.Still here.Still trying.

Episode 38: We’re Going to Be OkayEverything feels loud right now.Scroll for five minutes and you’d think the whole thing is unraveling. Anger sells. Extremes trend. The sharpest voices get the most attention.But that’s not the whole story.In this episode, Mike reflects on a recent trip to New Zealand to visit his son Cameron, the people he met there, and the powerful reminder that real life looks very different from the noise online. From black sand beaches at Piha to a packed table at Kisa in Auckland, the takeaway was simple: most people are just trying to build a good life.This episode explores:Why the internet distorts realityWhy the loud edges don’t represent the centerHow calm is a form of leadershipWhy steadiness matters more than spectacleAnd why ordinary, decent people are stronger than the noiseNo preaching. No denial. Just a grounded look at why we don’t have to live in permanent panic mode.Mike closes the episode with his song “I Refuse to Be Afraid,” a declaration of choosing courage and clarity over fear-driven living.If you’ve felt the tension lately but don’t want to be consumed by it, this one’s for you.We’re going to be okay.Still here. Still trying.

Episode 37: The Difference Between Peace and AvoidanceA lot of us have learned how to get quiet. We’ve pulled back, muted the noise, stepped away from things that felt too loud or too heavy. Some of that has been necessary. Some of it has been healing.But not all quiet means the same thing.In this episode, Mike talks about the difference between real peace and quiet avoidance. How the two can feel identical at first. Why exhaustion and long-term pressure blur the line. And how to tell whether calm is helping you stay present or slowly pulling you out of your own life.This conversation is about learning to rest without disappearing. About staying grounded without checking out. And about asking better questions when silence shows up and you’re not sure what it means.The episode closes with the title track from Mike’s upcoming album, The Noise Between Heartbeats. The song lives in that pause after the noise drops, when there’s nothing left to outrun and the quiet finally speaks. It’s a breath in the middle of the set. A moment to sit with what’s still standing when everything slows down.If you’ve ever wondered whether you’ve found peace or simply gone numb, this episode will help you hear the difference.

Episode 36: What Nobody Mentions About StabilityWe spend a lot of time learning how to survive chaos. We don’t spend nearly enough time learning how to live once things finally calm down.In this episode, Mike talks about stability—why it can feel uncomfortable, why calm can feel unfamiliar, and why some people end up sabotaging good situations without realizing what they’re doing.This conversation explores what happens when urgency fades, when life steadies, and when you’re left with space you don’t quite know how to fill. Mike shares insight into why stability can feel like loss at first, how growth continues even when it’s quiet, and why trusting good things can be harder than enduring hard ones.If you’ve ever felt restless when life finally stopped shaking, or wondered why peace didn’t feel the way you expected it to, this episode will help you make sense of it.The episode closes with the song “Even the Strong Break,” a reminder that strength doesn’t mean being unbreakable, and that pausing, resting, and letting yourself feel is part of staying whole.I’m still here.Still trying.And if you’re listening, chances are you are too.

Episode 35: Things I’d Stop Teaching If I Was Being HonestThere’s a lot of advice we keep repeating because it sounds wise, responsible, or motivating. Some of it worked once. Some of it helped at a different time in life. And some of it quietly stops serving us long before we admit it.In this episode, Mike takes a closer look at a few ideas he’d stop teaching if he was being honest. Not to tear anything down, and not to be contrarian, but to update the guidance based on lived experience.This conversation covers passion, work, confidence, and grit, and offers practical filters you can actually use instead of slogans that look good but leave people stuck. It’s about learning when to push, when to pause, and how to tell the difference.If you’ve ever felt frustrated by advice that sounds right but doesn’t quite fit anymore, this episode will help you rethink what you’re carrying and decide what’s worth keeping.The episode closes with the song “When the World Gets Loud,” a reminder that strength doesn’t always need volume and that kindness can be a deliberate, steady choice.Still here.Still trying.

Episode 34: The Freedom of Caring Less About the Wrong ThingsIn this episode, Mike talks about the quiet shift that happens when you stop caring so much about things that never actually made life better.Approval.Being right.Keeping up.Explaining yourself to people who were never going to understand you anyway.This conversation isn’t about checking out or lowering the bar. It’s about growing up, paying attention, and realizing how much energy gets wasted managing perceptions, narratives, and expectations that don’t move anything forward.Mike reflects on what changes when you stop auditioning for rooms you don’t need, stop replaying conversations that are already over, and stop carrying emotional weight that isn’t yours. What shows up instead is time, focus, and a quieter confidence that doesn’t need permission or applause.This episode is honest, grounded, and a little relieving. It’s for anyone who feels stretched thin, tired of performing, or ready to live with more intention and less noise.The episode closes with the song “Highway Ghosts,” a reminder that the past might ride along, but it doesn’t get to drive.If you’re done explaining, done proving, or done running races you never signed up for, this one’s for you.Still here.Still trying.

A year into this chapter, the tone feels louder, sharper, and more centered on ego than responsibility. This episode isn’t about politics as a debate. It’s about what this style of leadership does to us over time.I talk honestly about exhaustion, disappointment, and the quiet ways trust erodes when chaos and self-interest become normalized. I wrestle with optimism, not as denial, but as a discipline. A choice to stay human when it would be easier to harden or check out.This is a reflection on leadership, culture, and the question a lot of us are asking quietly.Does this actually feel like who we want to be.I close the episode with Written in the Stars, a song from the early days of this project, as a reminder that not everything has to be forced and not everything unfolds on our timeline.Still here. Still trying. Still choosing humanity.

Episode 32: Who You Become in the MiddleThis episode was recorded after a full week of perspective.Turning fifty.Time away with Kellie.Music that demanded presence.A surprise that reminded me how much quiet work love actually takes.Somewhere in the middle of all that, I saw a simple image about goals. It wasn’t clever. It wasn’t new. It was true.We spend so much time chasing outcomes. Promotions. Numbers. Milestones. Finish lines. And then we’re surprised when getting there doesn’t change us the way we thought it would.This episode is about the middle.The part that feels repetitive.The part nobody posts.The part where progress looks invisible and questions start showing up quietly.I talk about leadership when results lag behind effort.Creative work that asks for honesty before it offers validation.Relationships that are built through unseen consistency.And how growth usually happens without announcing itself.I also send you into the week with a new song, Hope’s Last Broadcast, written in response to the division, noise, and fear that feel everywhere right now. It’s a reminder that we’re not enemies, we’re the same crowd, and that choosing humanity still matters.If you’re tired.If you’re questioning.If you’re wondering whether the work you’re doing is actually shaping anything.This episode is for you.Thanks for being here.Still here. Still trying.

Stop Making Yourself Small; Finding Oxygen After You Leave Broken SystemsIn this episode of Still Here, Still Trying, Mike sits down with longtime friend Chad Anderson for a wide-ranging conversation about identity, trauma, creativity, and what it takes to live fully after leaving systems that no longer fit.Chad shares what it cost him to choose honesty, what it gave back over time, and why creating joy has become a deliberate act of resistance. This episode is about staying human, building safety, and refusing to shrink when the world asks you to.What you’ll hear in this episodeWhy many people survive by making themselves smaller.What it feels like to finally come up for oxygen.The real cost of choosing truth and why staying quiet costs more.How trauma shows up long after the system is gone.Why creativity helps carry stories that words alone cannot.The difference between community and compliance.How safety, joy, and boundaries work together.Why creating joy right now takes intention.What it means to still be here and still be trying.About today’s guestChad Anderson is a licensed clinical social worker, writer, filmmaker, and podcast host based in Salt Lake City, Utah. He lives with his husband and their two teenage children. Chad owns and operates Healthy Conflict Counseling, where he works with individuals navigating conflict, trauma, identity, and hard conversations.He is the host of the weekly podcast Graymalkin Lane, the author of Gay Mormon Dad (forthcoming as a graphic novel), and the producer of the documentary film Dog Valley.Links and resourcesHealthy Conflict Counselinghttps://www.healthyconflictcounseling.comGraymalkin Lane podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/graymalkin_lane/Dog Valley documentaryAvailable on Tubi, YouTube, and Amazonhttps://www.amazon.comGay Mormon Dad (graphic novel coming soon)Updates available via Chad’s websiteAbout the showStill Here, Still Trying is hosted by Mike Baker. The podcast explores real life, creativity, leadership, family, and the quiet work of staying human when life does not go according to plan.If this episode resonated:Follow the podcast.Share it with someone who needs it.Leave a review if you have a minute. That support keeps the work going.Mira had the week off for this episode. She’ll be back soon.

Beautifully UnfocusedThis episode moves differently.Mike Baker walks through his new album Beautifully Unfocused one song at a time, using music to explain what living with ADHD actually feels like from the inside. Not a release announcement. Not a lesson. Context.You’ll hear where each song came from. The overload. The hyperfocus. The crashes. The caffeine. The guilt of disappearing. The pride of building something anyway. The quiet moments no one sees. The tools that help. The parts that still don’t.Some songs swear. Some moments hit hard. Some will feel uncomfortably familiar.This episode is for people who live inside loud, fast minds. For partners, family, and coworkers who want to understand better. For creatives who struggle with focus but carry depth. For anyone tired of being told to “try harder.”Headphones help. Let it run all the way through.Beautifully unfocused. If you stayed this long, you get it.🎧 Still Here, Still Trying

Episode 29: Christmas, Still Here (A Short Reset for the Week Before Christmas)The week before Christmas hits hard for a lot of people. The calendar fills up, patience gets thin, and emotions show up in ways that don’t always make sense until you’re in it.In this short episode of Still Here, Still Trying, Mike Baker slows things down and gives you a grounded reset for the days leading into Christmas. No interview. No hype. No pretending. You get a real conversation about how to move through this week with clarity, steadiness, and a little more room to breathe.You’ll hear Mike talk about:Why the week before Christmas feels so intense, even when nothing “big” is happeningFamily dynamics, pressure, and the emotional weight people carry into the holidayHow leadership and responsibility follow you home, especially this time of yearSimple ways to protect your energy, stay calm, and avoid unnecessary frictionWhat showing up looks like when you feel stretched thinThis episode is for you if you’re dealing with holiday stress, end-of-year burnout, anxiety heading into Christmas, or the quiet pressure to make everything feel perfect for everyone else. It’s also for you if you want a Christmas week podcast that feels honest, human, and actually useful.The episode closes with “O Holy Night” as the outro song, giving you a quiet place to land before the holiday arrives.If Christmas feels joyful, complicated, heavy, or all of the above, press play. You’re not alone.Outro song: O Holy NightPodcast: Still Here, Still TryingHost: Mike Baker

Episode Title: A Goalie’s Letter to SantaBeer league goalies live in a different headspace. Warmups start and you’re already in your head. One screen you can’t see through, one weird bounce, one soft goal, and you’re doing therapy in real time behind a mask.In this holiday episode, Mike sits down with Tom Buck for a goalie-to-goalie conversation that turns into something bigger.Tom is a longtime audio and video creator and a former high school Digital Media teacher who’s built a welcoming community around cameras, mics, streaming, and podcasting. He’s also the kind of guy who brings calm, humor, and perspective to everything, including the chaos of the crease.  Mike met Tom at Weekend Warriors Hockey Camp this summer, and the goalie chemistry was instant. This episode is framed as a “goalie wish list,” but it’s really about how beer league becomes family and why the position teaches you more about life than you expect.You’ll hear us talk about:What “clear the crease” actually meansScreens, blocked shots, and deflections that make zero senseGoalie interference and the realities of beer league officiatingPower plays, puck handling panic, and why “time, time, time” mattersWhy a good bench changes how you playThe adult side of hockey, connection, and the people you meet along the wayTom Buck: www.himynameistom.com  Weekend Warriors Hockey Camps: weekendwarriorshockey.com  Beer League Players Association: blpa.com 

Let Something Be Easy TodayThis episode lands right before Christmas, right in the middle of a packed calendar, a messy sleep schedule, and two big nights at The Art Spirit Gallery for No Permission Needed.Mike talks about:Heading into Friday night ArtWalk and a community night with friends, endo warriors, coworkers, and neighborsWhat “rest” has actually looked like lately: couch crashes, midnight studio sessions, emails with Anne in the Philippines, late-night guitar, and early meetingsWhy so many of us only rest when we are wreckedHow small joys and gentle pauses keep us human in the middle of loud opinions and heavy workYou will hear a simple challenge: pick one thing in your life and let it be easy on purpose.At the end, Mike sends you out with his song “Everyday Magic,” written for Kellie and for anyone carrying quiet strength through ordinary days.

Joy Looks Good on You – Holiday SpecialThis episode sits inside real December, not the postcard version. I walk through the stories behind my Christmas albums, from Starlight and Silent Nights to the new projects Still Snowing Somewhere, That Christmas Feeling Again, and Lights in the Window.We talk about:Writing “letters to the North Pole” as a kid and what that looks like now as an adultSnowy nights when the world finally quiets downFireplaces and small rooms that help your shoulders dropThe Coeur d’Alene Christmas parade with Jake, “Silent Night,” and the lights flipping on over the lakeMy mom’s kitchen, packed with cookies, fudge, caramels, and enchiladas, and how those smells still feel like homeI share how I am still learning basic guitar while using AI tools like Suno to build choirs and full arrangements around very human, very personal stories. The tech helps me build the sound. The memories, grief, and joy are real.You will hear the heart behind songs like:“Joy Looks Good on You,” “Letter to the North Pole,” “Snow Falls Quiet,” “When the Fireplace Glows,” “Home for the Christmas Parade,” “Back Home for Christmas,” and “Smelled Like Home.”If your holidays feel complicated, this one is for you. If they feel steady and warm, this gives you space to be grateful for that too. I close the episode by sending you out with “Joy Looks Good on You” and a reminder:You made it to another December.Joy looks good on you. More than you know.

God Complex: Narcissism in Life and LeadershipThis episode kicks off a new five-part series on personality patterns we face at home, at work, and inside every messy human system. We start with one of the most confusing and emotionally draining patterns out there: narcissistic behavior.I walk through what this pattern looks like, why it forms, how it shows up in leadership, and how it impacts personal relationships. We talk about shame, manipulation, accountability, boundaries, and what it takes to stay grounded when someone else keeps pulling the room toward themselves.This conversation is not therapy. It’s insight and observation shaped by research, leadership experience, and years of watching good people lose their sense of worth around ego-driven behavior.You’ll learn how to protect your peace, how to respond without losing your voice, and how to recognize the difference between intensity and connection. You’ll also hear how to rebuild confidence, reclaim your identity, and create healthier environments that stay steady under pressure.At the end of the episode, I’ll send you out with my song God Complex, written from the same place this conversation comes from — watching how ego, control, and emotional manipulation tear down trust and how powerful it is when people finally stop bending.Thanks for listening. Thanks for caring about your own growth.Take care of yourself and protect your peace.

In this episode, Mike slows everything down and talks about what it means to actually show up in the moment you’re living. It starts with a hand-painted mirror he found in Palm Springs. Three simple lines hit him harder than expected:Look back.Look ahead.Live now.From there, he walks through the pull of the past, the pressure of the future, and the work it takes to stay grounded in the present. He talks about leadership, connection, the art show conversations, the tension of moving too fast, and the practice of slowing down long enough to bring people with you.You’ll hear real stories.You’ll hear lessons from the week.You’ll hear practical steps you can try today to feel more human and more present in your own life.Mira opens the episode with a light, honest check-in.Mike wraps with a quiet reminder that your life happens in the moment you’re actually standing in.If this episode hits home, leave a comment, share it with someone, and make sure you’re subscribed.The Optimist’s Way on Amazon: https://a.co/d/cqSPJKDStill here. Still trying.

This week’s episode is a steady, honest look back at everything that happened around the art show opening. Mike walks through the reactions, the confusion, the support, and the noise that hit before anyone even saw the work. He talks about what he learned, why stories matter, how the women in his life shaped the project, and why he’s still growing as a creator.He also addresses the apology conversation, the impact on the gallery, and the responsibility he’s taking for his part in the chaos. This is a calm reset, not an argument. A human conversation about art, community, curiosity, and change.If you’ve been following the show, the exhibit, or the online conversations, this episode will give you clarity on where Mike stands and where he’s heading next.Still here. Still trying. Still creating.

In Episode 23, Mike Baker reminds us that our stories matter more than we realize.This episode dives into the quiet impact of truth — how the things we survive, share, and speak out loud can become lifelines for someone else.Mike also opens up about the success of his new art show No Permission Needed at The Art Spirit Gallery in downtown Coeur d’Alene, a powerful project about women’s voices, autonomy, and the courage to be seen.You’ll hear reflections on failure, family, and the small moments that hold real strength.And yes, Mike talks about Mira — the Jarvis-inspired AI co-host who helps Mike take the armor off and get real.If you’ve ever doubted that your story matters, this one’s for you.📘 Read Mike’s book, The Optimist’s Way: Rising Toward Purpose, Hope, and Light → https://a.co/d/cqSPJKD🎨 Visit The Art Spirit Gallery to see No Permission Needed in person.🎧 Listen now and remember — someone out there needs your story.Episode 23: “Someone Out There Needs Your Story”

My art show went live and the reaction blew up fast. The gallery posted the announcement and the comment sections turned into a storm. People questioned my intentions, my process, my place in the gallery, and my right to create work connected to women’s health. A lot of people judged the work without knowing anything about the story behind it.This episode is my version of what happened.I walk through the impact of the comments, the conversations with my family, the friends who checked in, and the moment on the ice that snapped me back into myself. I talk about the year I spent building this project and the years of women’s health advocacy that shaped it long before the show existed.If you felt something when you saw the show, listen. If you’re a critic, listen. If you care about art, voice, women’s health, or intention, this gives you the full picture the internet can’t hold.Thanks for showing up.Still here. Still trying.

Description:This episode opens the door to my new art show, No Permission Needed, running at The Art Spirit Gallery in downtown Coeur d’Alene.These portraits grew out of real stories — women who’ve carried pain, power, and resilience in silence for far too long. The show is built from everything I’ve learned watching the women in my life fight for care, dignity, and the right to be heard.In this conversation, I talk about the process, the fear, and the purpose behind the work. The imposter syndrome. The late nights. The hope that something honest can still move people.You can also watch the No Permission Needed slideshow and hear the original song that inspired this episode here: Watch on YouTube.This project has changed how I see art, leadership, and empathy. It’s personal, raw, and rooted in gratitude for the women who continue to teach me what strength looks like.Listen in, then come see No Permission Needed during the Art Walk on November 14 at The Art Spirit Gallery.

Episode Title: Veterans Day – Scars in the LightIn this special Veterans Day mini episode, Mike reflects on the people who’ve shaped his understanding of service and strength — his dad, both grandfathers, his father-in-law, cousin Bubba, teammates from hockey, and the veterans who serve today at Heritage Health.He speaks openly about the quiet courage he’s witnessed, the weight many still carry, and the everyday grace that defines true service. While the artwork for this episode plays on screen — a soldier built from hundreds of faces and memories — Mike invites listeners to see the humanity behind the uniform.The episode closes with his song “Scars in the Light,” written to honor the veterans in his life and all who keep moving forward, still here, still trying.

🎙️ Still Here, Still Trying – Episode 21: “The Things That Keep Me Sane”What keeps you grounded when the world won’t slow down?For me — it’s motion, creation, rhythm, and the people who still give a damn.In this episode, I open up about the small, real things that keep me from burning out — the late-night drives along Lake Coeur d’Alene, the ten-hour runs to Utah where my brain finally breathes, the act of creating as a way of recovering.This one’s about rhythm over balance, about learning that sanity doesn’t live in stillness — it lives in motion.We talk about how creativity heals, how ritual builds resilience, and how connection keeps all of it alive.It’s an episode for anyone carrying too much, thinking too hard, or just trying to stay human in a world built for speed.And at the end, I share a song that means more to me than almost anything I’ve made.“The Voice Is Mine” was born from a stretch where people stopped taking my work seriously because I was creating with AI — like the story behind it somehow stopped being real.This track became my answer to that.A line in the sand.A reminder that technology doesn’t erase humanity — it expands it.Every lyric, every layer still comes from lived experience.If you’ve ever been doubted, dismissed, or told that your way of creating doesn’t count, this episode — and this song — are for you.Listen. Breathe. Drive.And remember: you’re still here, still creating, still trying.Support the showThanks for listening to Still Here, Still Trying.If this episode gave you something to think about, please like, follow, subscribe, and share it with three people who could use it in their lives.You can find more of my work — music, writing, art, and reflections — at:🌐 mikebakerhq.comGrab a copy of my book, The Optimist’s Way:📚 https://a.co/d/4RqPS6gThanks for being here.Still here. Still trying.

Episode Title: Life Across the Sea (with Cameron Baker)Description:In the first-ever interview on Still Here, Still Trying, Mike sits down with his middle son, Cameron Baker, who’s been living and working in New Zealand. Together they talk about what it means to start over in a new country — the pull of independence, the loneliness that comes with it, and the strength it takes to build a life from scratch.Cameron shares stories from the restaurant world, his growing passion for wine, and the lessons he’s learned about leadership, patience, and finding purpose far from home. It’s a raw, honest conversation about family, culture, and the kind of personal growth that only happens when you step out into the unknown.🎧 Listen in for a father and son conversation that spans oceans, rooted in love, grit, and the courage to keep trying.

Episode 20: The Art of Staying HumanThe noise is everywhere — headlines, outrage, algorithms feeding the chaos.But underneath all that, there’s still something worth protecting.In Episode 20 of Still Here, Still Trying, Mike Baker shares The Art of Staying Human — a grounded, honest guide to holding on to empathy, truth, and decency in a world built for division.He lays out a five-part playbook for staying human when the algorithms pull us apart:1️⃣ Remember what’s real2️⃣ Curate what shapes you3️⃣ Practice slow truth4️⃣ Create something that can’t be scrolled5️⃣ Stay kind — especially when it’s unpopularThis one’s part reflection, part roadmap, and all heart — a reminder that connection still beats clicks, and that even in the noise, we can choose to be human first.🎶 Closing song: “Came Here to Be Kind” by Mike Baker🎧 Listen, share, and follow to help push back against the negativity feed.Because the middle still matters — and you’re part of it.

🎙️ Episode 19 — The Middle Still MattersSomewhere along the way, noise replaced nuance.Everything became a side to choose, a take to post, a reaction to perform. We started scrolling through outrage like it was oxygen, and somehow forgot how to just… listen.In this episode, Mike Baker steps back from the static to search for the signal underneath it — the quiet frequency that still connects us.He reflects on what liberty looks like when truth flickers, on the slow erosion of empathy, and on why the middle of the story — the place between extremes — still holds the power to heal.Through personal reflection, storytelling, and moments drawn from his art and music, Mike explores how we begin finding our way back to each other when everything around us rewards division.He shares why he created Human First — not as a protest, but as a reminder. A reminder that connection still matters, that decency still counts, and that empathy is not weakness — it’s survival.The Middle Still Matters is an invitation to breathe again, to remember who we are beneath the headlines, and to believe — even now — that light still breaks through the static.🎧 Still Here, Still Trying — with Mike BakerMusic: “Human First” by Mike Baker

What if art wasn’t about what we see—but what we help others see?In this episode, Mike reflects on how empathy opened the door to his creative life. From the EndoWarrior portraits inspired by his daughter’s journey with invisible pain, to discovering how AI could help capture ideas that move faster than his hands, this conversation is about creation rooted in love, not ambition.Mike talks about learning to create with ADHD, bridging leadership and art, and finding meaning where humanity and technology meet. He honors traditional artists, challenges the fear around new tools, and reminds us that progress doesn’t erase heart—it reveals it.This episode also introduces his new visual series, Human / Machine / Light, built around the idea:And if you’ve seen the Human First T-shirt, this episode carries the same message—empathy, creativity, and connection in motion.🖤 Get the shirt, wear the message: https://mike-baker-hq.printify.me🎧 Listen now, and remember: creation still belongs to us.🎧 Episode 18 – Seeing Differently: Art Beyond Vision“The future of art lives in the space where human and machine meet.”

After a week on the islands celebrating 26 years of marriage, Mike Baker returns home sunburned, grateful, and changed.In this deeply personal episode, he reflects on the quiet moments that inspired his new album Human First — a project born out of compassion, faith, and the belief that kindness still matters in a divided world.From floating off St. John with Kellie and writing Stop Making Amy Cry about his sister-in-law’s incredible heart, to wrestling with faith, leadership, and the headlines that challenge our humanity — this episode is raw, real, and full of truth.Mike opens up about what it means to live with mercy, lead with grace, and create from a place of love instead of noise. He shares the story behind Human First, why he still believes in people, and how we can all help carry the flame forward.If you’ve been craving something honest — something that cuts through the chaos and speaks straight to the heart — this one’s for you.🎧 Listen now to Episode 17: “Human First.”🌊 Like, share, and help spread the message — because the world still needs more light.Here's the link to purchase a t-shirt https://mike-baker-hq.printify.me

Episode 16 – You’ve Been Becoming This Whole TimeIn this episode of Still Here, Still Trying, Mike Baker leans into one of the quiet truths from his book The Optimist’s Way™: that we’ve been becoming all along, even when it feels like we’re stuck or falling behind.Mike begins by reading the full passage from the book, then opens it up into reflections on work, art, and life. He shares the unseen growth that happens in leadership at Heritage Health — the kind that doesn’t show up on dashboards or reports but transforms people in small, profound ways. He talks about the music and art he’s created over the years, including songs and images that may never reach the public but still shaped him in ways no metric can measure.The heart of the episode is family. Mike reflects on the quiet strength he’s witnessed in his daughter as she lives with endometriosis, and how that has changed the way he sees the invisible battles others carry. He speaks about Jake’s move to Boise, and the becoming that happens as a parent when you learn how to step back, trust your adult children, and cheer them on as they build their own lives. He talks about Cameron’s move across the world to New Zealand, and what it has meant to learn how to love across oceans. And he reflects on his marriage to Kellie — how they’ve become more rooted and honest over the years through both laughter and hardship.This episode is a reminder that becoming isn’t about big milestones or applause. It’s about the ways you grow softer, steadier, and stronger in the daily moments no one else sees. It’s about breathing, noticing, and remembering you are not behind, you are not lost — you’ve been becoming this whole time.🎶 Featuring the song “This One’s for Me.”📖 Read The Optimist’s Way™: https://a.co/d/igbHGkK

Episode 15 – The Quiet VictoriesWhen you’re not thriving, but you’re still showing up.In this episode, I talk about optimism — not the shiny kind, but the kind that survives.The kind that limps forward when you’re full, tired, and no one’s clapping.I tell the story of a meeting in D.C. that left me gutted — not because of what was said loudly, but because of what was named quietly.I talk about how I walked for hours afterward just trying to find my breath again.And how I ended up making three pieces of art about what it feels like to speak and not be heard.There’s a reading from The Optimist’s Way™ — my book about leading, healing, and staying human in hard times.You can find it here: https://a.co/d/igbHGkKThere’s a reminder to come home to what matters.And there’s a song at the end — “Another Trip Around the Sun.”A small, steady anthem for anyone just trying to get through the day with their head and heart intact.This one’s about the victories no one sees.The ones that count anyway.Still here. Still trying. And I’m glad you are too.

Podcast: Still Here, Still TryingHost: Mike BakerClosing song: “Apologies to the Future”From the book: The Optimist’s Way™This episode lands a little late. And maybe that’s exactly right.Mike returns from a heavy trip to D.C. with a full heart, a tired mind, and a deep ache for something we’re all losing: our connection to each other.In a time when tension is rising, conversations are hard, and violence seems closer than we want to admit — this isn’t a reaction. It’s a reminder. A reminder that we still belong to each other.That disagreement doesn’t have to become destruction.That light still comes back — even here.Mike reads a full page from his book The Optimist’s Way, reflects on the quiet fractures happening all around us, and introduces his latest song “Apologies to the Future” — a raw, honest prayer for the world we’re handing off.💬 Real talk. No scripts. Just presence.🎧 Tune in, take a breath, and stay human.🎙️ Episode 14 – The Light Still Comes Back

Episode 13 – Say Yes: The Wild, Risky, Beautiful ThingsLucky number 13. Most podcasts don’t even make it this far, but here we are — still here, still trying.This week, I’m talking about the power of saying yes when everything in you wants to say no. I read a passage from my book The Optimist’s Way™ that reminds us life doesn’t wait — we only get one chance to step outside our comfort zones and chase the things that make us feel alive.In this episode, I share:Why saying yes is both terrifying and necessaryHow imposter syndrome shows up every time I release new music or artThe unexpected global connections that came from risking creativity — including a message from a listener in KenyaHow projects like EndoDad76 and women’s health advocacy work in North Idaho started from the same willingness to step forwardA simple challenge you can take on today to turn one of your “no’s” into a yesThis is part gratitude, part confession, and part invitation. If you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect plan, or the perfect confidence — this is your reminder that the perfect moment never comes. Say yes anyway.📖 Read The Optimist’s Way™: https://a.co/d/8DU2pRX🎶 Outro track: The Way We Shine (from the album The Way We Shine)

In this episode, Mike reflects on anxiety, the start of school, the Ted Lasso panic attack scene, and a brand-new piece of AI art he created called Even Heroes Feel It.This image is part of a larger series he’s building for a women’s health project later this fall — a collection of powerful visual stories about strength, survival, and connection.👉 Check out the image here on ⁠Pictorem⁠A message of strength and courageKeep this as a reminder for the days when things feel heavy. Anxiety is real, and it can feel overwhelming, but it does not take away your strength. The power to face it has always been inside you — this image is here to remind you of that.Anxiety doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It means your body is reacting to stress, even when your mind wishes it wouldn’t. That tight feeling in your chest, the racing thoughts — you’re not the only one. Even the strongest people feel it.Heroes feel it too. They get scared. They doubt themselves. They wonder if they can keep going. What makes them strong is not the absence of fear, but the choice to carry on through it.When anxiety rises, pause and breathe. Let the feelings move through you, and then take the next step. That choice is courage. That choice is strength.The image is a reminder: strength doesn’t mean pretending everything is easy. Strength is looking up, even when fear is still in your chest.You are not alone in this. You are stronger than you know.Locker-Note MantraAnxiety is real.It doesn’t mean you’re weak.Even heroes feel it.Breathe. Keep going. You’re stronger than you think.One-Line Toolkit“Even heroes feel it — and I can keep going too.”“Anxiety shows up, but it doesn’t control me.”“I can breathe, I can move forward, I can do this.”“Strong doesn’t mean no fear — it means carrying on anyway.”“This feeling will pass. My strength stays.”🌱 Yes, there’s a plant named Kevin — and Kevin deserves a shoutout.🍷 And introducing our brand-new “international sponsor” — the amazing Cameron Baker with Barely Legal Wine. Stay tuned…🎶 Outro track: My Therapist Has a Plant Named Kevin🎙️ Show Notes — Episode 12: Even Heroes Feel ItFrom the Artwork — Even Heroes Feel It

Episode 11 – The Beer League Goalie ManifestoFall hockey is back, and so is the chaos of beer league. The sticks are taped, the skates are sharp (for about ten minutes), and the cooler in the locker room is waiting like it’s the Stanley Cup.This episode is a survival guide from the crease — straight from your goalie. The weird one. The one who talks to his posts and willingly straps on fifty pounds of gear just to get lit up by slapshots for fun.We’re talking about the language that actually helps your goalie survive (spoiler: yell at us like we’re dogs), the defensive basics that matter more than any system, why forwards need to stop floating and backcheck, and the unspoken code of beer league that keeps the game fun. There’s chirps, there’s self-deprecation, and yeah… there’s some swearing. Hockey’s a rough game, and the language can be too — so cover your ears if you need to.At the end, I give a special shoutout to the fellas from Beer League Dad Life and to Nick from BLPA — go give them a follow and show some love for the beer league community.We close this one with a track that says it all — Beer League Forever. You can stream it here: Beer League Forever on Spotify.@beerleaguedadslife @BLPAStill here. Still trying. Still stopping pucks.

Episode 10 – The Optimist’s Guide to Everyday DisastersDescription:Life’s curveballs don’t always come as big tragedies. Most of the time, they show up as everyday disasters: the pizza dough you tried to microwave, the Zoom call you dozed off in, the Silly Putty that left you bleeding on stage, or the hockey puck that knocks your helmet loose.In this episode, I share my Optimist’s Disaster Survival Toolkit — four lighthearted “rules” for surviving the mess with humor, optimism, and maybe a scar or two.I also take a few minutes to talk about my brand-new album Invisible Wars — a project born out of heavy themes, but delivered with fun, defiant energy and even a full choir. The full album is out now on SoundCloud, and singles are rolling out all week on Spotify and the other platforms.🎧 Listen now and laugh through the chaos with me.Show Notes:In this episode:🍕 The Food Fail Protocol — featuring the worst Traeger pizza ever.💻 The Tech Gremlin Response Plan — Zoom naps, mute button fails, and Kellie’s favorite CEO video.🤦 The Public Embarrassment Playbook — the Silly Putty scar story.🏒 The Curveball Rule — Maeson’s slapshot and the chaos of being a goalie.🎶 A look inside my new album Invisible Wars — upbeat, choir-backed songs about the battles we all carry inside.💡 Special shoutout to Anne, my new EA partner from Athena — she’s amazing, and the Tagalog in this episode’s intro is for her.👉 Stream the full album on SoundCloud: Invisible Wars👉 Follow me on Spotify for the single releases: Mike Baker Music👉 Check out my art: Infinite Canvas GalleryIf this podcast or the music connects with you — share it. Stream it. Post about it. Every play, every share, every comment helps build this community and helps the work reach the people who need it most.🎙️ Still Here, Still Trying

🎙 Still Here, Still Trying — A Spoken Word SpecialDescription:This is different.No guest. No interview. No backstory.Just a spotlight, a quiet room, and words I’ve carried for years.Still Here, Still Trying is a spoken word piece for anyone who has ever smiled and said, “I’m fine” when you weren’t.For the leaders, the parents, the friends, the ones who keep showing up even when it’s heavy.It’s about what I’ve learned—that strength isn’t silence.And the people who love you can carry more than you think.When the weight is too much, find arms that will hold it with you.And when you can — be those arms.Listen. Feel it. Share it with someone who needs it.

Some things you don’t “get over.” They change you. They move in and make themselves part of your life. And maybe the goal isn’t to erase them — maybe it’s to learn how to live, love, lead, and create with them still in the room.In this conversation, I explore:The culture of closure — how we set invisible timelines for healing and why they backfire.Carrying vs. moving on — personal stories and what my own songwriting taught me.When the body keeps score — listening for the signs you’ve been pushing too hard.Leadership when pain lingers — five practices to lead with trust and care.Advocacy and language — better words for hard days, for others and for yourself.Art as a container — the story behind Embracing the Weight: A Journey Through Shadows and Light.Music as a turning point — my song Made it Through the Morning as a quiet victory anthem.Featured Song:🎵 Made it Through the Morning – Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/6a7cHhIALMm536M87PsLIl?si=c3a0af577b9a4356Featured Artwork:🎨 Embracing the Weight: A Journey Through Shadows and Light – View here:https://www.pictorem.com/1934551/embracing-the-weight-a-journey-through-shadows-and-light/More ways to connect:📖 The Optimist’s Way™ – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6J6M9Q4🎶 All my music – https://open.spotify.com/artist/2hbJLbX7FkveIAz0xnJce9?si=UHpwiUotRUWTNDyGjsgq9g📷 Instagram – https://instagram.com/mikebakerhq💛 Support Endometriosis Awareness – https://instagram.com/endodad76

🎙️ Episode 8 – The Quiet Work No One SeesStill Here, Still TryingThis one’s for the things nobody claps for.The invisible labor.The off-stage leadership.The songs, the choices, the healing—done quietly, without an audience.I talk about what it means to keep showing up when no one’s watching,and then I walk through my newest EP—written during a weekend where I felt disconnected, heavy, and quietly unraveling.It’s raw. It’s unfiltered. And it came from a night I just needed to survive.Five songs. No plan. No polish.Just truth I needed to say out loud.As a special bonus, I added two of those new tracks at the end of this episode.No intro. No outro. Just the music.Let it hit however it hits.If this episode speaks to you—let me know.Leave a comment. Hit follow.Share it with someone else who’s still trying too.Appreciate you being here.Still here. Still trying.

Sometimes life shifts in a way that’s hard to explain.The plan made sense. The rhythm felt right.But something changes—and suddenly, you’re standing in a story that no longer fits.In this episode, I’m talking about those quiet turning points. The ones where leadership feels uncertain, identity feels blurry, and the version of yourself you thought you knew starts to evolve.I’ll share what it looked like for me—in the work I do, in being a dad, and in how I process it all through music and art.I’ll also open up about the story behind “Borrow Mine”, my standalone single written for anyone who’s out of gas and tired of pretending they’re not.Because sometimes what we need isn’t advice. It’s presence. And a little borrowed hope until we can find our own again.You’ll also notice something different about the intros from now on. I’m not explaining it. Just go with it. Let’s keep this thing fun.If you’re feeling in-between right now—between what was and what’s next—I hope this episode gives you a little permission to pause, reflect, and keep writing the next line at your own pace.🎧 Listen to my music on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/2fVaE8YQk3YIGFgPrfGTzG📖 Grab my book The Optimist’s Way on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJV7PDZ5🌐 Explore more of my work—art, music, advocacy—at:www.mikebakerhq.comThanks for being here. Keep showing up.

Episode 6: Hope in a Crazy WorldStill Here, Still Trying with Mike BakerThere’s a strange heaviness in the air lately. People are tired in ways they can’t explain. The news is relentless. Politics feel like a battleground. The pressure to stay informed, stay productive, stay afloat — it adds up.In this episode, I talk about what it means to survive without shutting down, and how we stay hopeful when the world around us feels chaotic. This is not a pep talk. It’s a pause. A place to name the weariness honestly — and still choose to keep our hearts open.Hope, the kind I believe in, doesn’t shout. It doesn’t demand attention. It shows up in how we treat people. It grows slowly in the spaces we protect from cynicism. And it gives back in ways fear never will.I share a few things that have grounded me lately — moments from my book The Optimist’s Way, the music I’ve been writing, the art that helps me process what words can’t always carry. There’s nothing polished about this season. But there’s still beauty in it, and I want to help us find it together.Whether you’re a parent trying to hold it all together, a leader trying to stay steady for others, or just a human trying to stay soft in a world that keeps pushing you to harden up — this space is for you.📖 The Optimist’s Way is available here: https://a.co/d/4RqPS6g🎶 Stream the songs that grew from these reflections: https://linktr.ee/mikebakermusicIf this conversation means something to you, pass it along. Share it with someone who might need a little light. That’s how we keep building something worth believing in — not all at once, but one honest moment at a time.Still here. Still trying. See you next time.

Episode 5: Let’s Talk About HopeIn this episode, I’m reflecting on what it means to hold onto hope in a world that feels increasingly divided and noisy. Hope isn’t something we wait to feel. It’s something we build through small choices, steady actions, and the ways we show up for one another.These aren’t easy times. Outrage spreads fast. Suspicion grows quickly. But there’s still a different way forward. A slower, quieter path where connection matters more than volume. Where kindness matters more than winning arguments.I’m sharing stories from my own life — the work we do at Heritage Health, moments on the ice with the next generation learning resilience, and the small acts of compassion that remind me people are still worth believing in.This conversation comes from the heart of The Optimist’s Way. It’s about the work of staying human, staying connected, and holding onto hope even when it feels harder to find.Thanks for listening. Thanks for showing up.📖 The Optimist’s Way on Amazon: https://a.co/d/4RqPS6g🎵 Music on Spotify, Apple Music, and more.🎙️ Follow for future episodes.Still here. Still trying.