The Mindsoak Project

Andy Kelso came on the show to give us a taste of the life of a broadway actor. He’s performed in Kinky Boots (that’s Tony Award Winner Kinky Boots to you…), Rent, Fiddler on the Roof, Mamma Mia and Wicked and he starred in the Amazon show “Good Girl Revolt”. We talk about when he realized he wanted to be a performer, handling rejection in a job that is constantly doling it out, the challenges of raising a family while being an actor and the bond that is formed in a cast through a show and how difficult it is to part ways after the show has closed. Andy also gives advice for budding actors, talks about his favorite roles and discusses he greatest challenges in life. I loved talking to Andy despite his love of the Denver Broncos (if you don’t know I’m a Patriots fan), but I have to say even I was impressed with this performance in front of 75,000 people: But that performance pales in comparison to this one…his most important performance ever: To learn more about Andy visit his website at www.andykelso.com, on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

I enjoyed the heck out of my conversation with Kathy Rampsperger. Listening and talking to genuine people always brings a smile to my face. Kathy has done a little bit of everything in her life; journalist, humanitarian, speaker, Reiki instructor, certified coach, parent, author…you name it and Kathy has most likely done it. That’s why it was interesting to hear her perspective on parenting, happiness, working through troubled times and keeping a positive mindset as we overcome our hurdles. Kathy created Ground One Coaching after the events of 9/11 in her quest to “refreshen the world”. One of my favorite things I’ve heard Kathy say is the idea of giving our children “the gift of imperfection.” Allowing them to make mistakes, to learn from the mistakes and be unconditionally loved. My second favorite “Kathy-ism” is how she wants parents to focus more on memories that GPA. Oh how those words echo in my head. A big thanks to Kathy for coming on the podcast and gracing me with her wisdom and thoughts on life. To learn more about Kathy please visit Ground One Coaching, learn more about her upcoming novel, “The Shores of Our Souls” or follow her on Twitter.

Paul Lemley is back! Since we last talked to Paul on January 13, 2017 he’s taken a business idea from concept to raising venture capital to establishing a development team to prototyping the app to preparing for a beta launch next week. In just three months! Seriously. That all seems impossible. But that’s exactly what he did and now we get to hear from him about all the trials and tribulations of navigating the wonderful world of startups and beta apps. I mention this in the podcast but it’s worth noting here as well, in talking to Paul so many times on the podcast it’s been a wonderful ride listening to him grow in confidence regarding this business idea. (That’s been the plan by the way…see…we aren’t THAT random at Mindsoak.) We got to hear him initially talk about his “crazy” app idea and then he came on and we talked about how he is thinking about going to potential investors and then we heard from him in another episode about how he thought he most likely had an interested investor to this episode of the podcast where not only does he have investors he’s ready to launch his product. You can hear his confidence in this idea grow through each episode and I couldn’t be happier for the guy. His app, Hivecast, is putting broadcasting events into the hands of anyone who owns a phone. It’s such a simple, yet elegant premise. Say you’re at an event, it could be a concert, a political rally, a lecture at a college or your niece’s birthday party. One person, the producer can invite several other “camera operators” to the app and stream the event live. The producer can then choose which camera is being seen at any given time, much like a football game does on one of the major networks. It’s brilliant! If you’re interested in startups, technology, investors, creating a positive culture or a MVP (minimal viable product) this is the episode for you. Or if you just love Paul. Then you should also listen to this episode. If you’re interested in being a beta tester (or just want to be informed of updates for Hivecast) simply go to hivecast.co and sign up on their homepage. You can also check them out on all the social media sites; Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Thanks Paul! Good luck to you and your team next week! Here’s a quick demo of some of the capabilities of Hivecast:

My dad is my hero. Always has been. Always will be. Mike Filitti is the most sincere, upfront, and genuine man you could meet. I’ve always envied his ability to say exactly what’s on his mind, whether it’s an emotional eulogy or a rant about something that frustrates him. We joke in the family that he needs to use the “filter” more when he’s frustrated, but when I really sit back and think about it, not having a filter is actually one of his best qualities. My dad wears his heart on his sleeve and you always know where you stand with him. My mom and dad gave me the best childhood a guy could ask for. And I say that with no hyperbole. I always felt respected but also felt disciplined and they always had just the right amount of expectations for me. As I’ve gotten older they went from being two parents who I deeply admired and respected to two friends  who I admire and respect even more. Everything about their parenting, their relationship to how they handle life is a guidepost for me and my family to follow. Since the beginning of Mindsoak my dad has been patiently waiting to come on the podcast to talk about life. I wanted him on from day one too but we waited a bit so my listeners would know me better as a host. I think it will be more rewarding now, after getting to know me, to listen to my conversation with my own dad. We talk about his recent retirement, his transition from being a father to being a grandfather, the legacy we leave behind as parents and grandparents and his greatest achievement in life…which was having me. (Kidding Lisa!) We go through some of the Mike Filitti Legendary Sayings, like “Common sense isn’t all that common” or “As worthless as a screen door on a submarine” and “What’s time to a hog”. (He should write a book about all of them.) I had each of my kids each ask him one question from a grandchild perspective. My daughter asked, “If you could go back in time would you do anything differently?” and my son asked “What is something from your childhood that today’s kids would appreciate having?” (Pretty deep questions right? Maybe they have a future in hosting Mindsoak someday.) We also talk about how important extracurricular activities were to our lives when my sister and I were growing up. We have many fond memories and still cherish our wonderful friendships we created during those years. And then, even though my dad claims he is not a “deep thinker”, we get pretty philosophical about life, cherishing family members who came before us and we discuss what he would say to my grandparents if he could have one more conversation with them. Thanks for the deep conversation dad! Love you!

“Fierce Kindness”. You kinda have to love how that sounds. The fantabulous Dana Faletti told me I need to meet Melanie Salvatore August. That Melanie and I would connect instantly. That the work Melanie does is right up Mindsoak alley. Since I always listen to Dana (seriously, ask her) I reached out to Melanie and, true to Dana’s word, we connected instantly. So effortlessly in fact, that if we go back in our Italian heritage I guarantee we find we are related. And if we aren’t, well, I think we may adopt each other as siblings. First my love note to Melanie: Thank you, thank you, thank you. For the work you are putting out on into the world. For the delightful conversation we had and for being so open and honest during the podcast. Your take on life and life’s purpose is refreshing and reinforcing. I’m positively stoked to know you. Melanie is the author of the recently released book, “Fierce Kindness: Be a Positive Force For Change” and the creator of Operation Fierce Kindness. She also wrote “Kitchen Yoga: Simple Home Practices to Transform Mind, Body, and Life” and does about a million other things aimed at helping people become more mindful and more kind. We discuss her insights which lead to writing “Fierce Kindness” (and wow is it a beautifully written and designed book), her history of self exploration and her desire to live intentionally. We discuss insecurities and how we try to beat them back with a stick and we genuinely have a glorious and fun filled conversation about life and the version of ourselves we are aspiring to become. The first thing about “Fierce Kindness” that caught my eye when I opened the book was the statement “Don’t believe everything you think.” I absolutely love that statement and Melanie effortlessly breaks down it’s meaning. And she does it in a way that will help you challenge some of your false beliefs you carry around for no apparent reason other than you’ve always carried them around. As if we weren’t deep enough in conversation from the onset of the podcast, Melanie then allows me to ask her the deep questions she asks readers in “Fierce Kindness”. Notice when you listen how after I ask a question, Melanie always takes a deep, insightful pause as she gathers her thoughts. I absolutely love this about her. It’s so indicative of how she is present in the moment. Again, thank you Melanie, I appreciated our conversation immensely and am looking forward to the many more to come. Show Notes: Learn more about Melanie: http://www.melaniesalvatoreaugust.com http://www.fiercekindness.org Instagram Facebook Yellow Pear Press (I’m really excited to have learned of they publishing company…they are putting out some fantastic books! Books discussed: The Power of Kindness: The Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Compassionate Life The Gift of Therapy: An Open Letter to a New Generation of Therapists and Their Patients

Sarah Aili was born and raised in California and now hails from Nashville, Tennessee. She’s a singer/songwriter who writes and performs songs in a variety of genres from pop, country, bluegrass and folk. She does the music thing. She goes on tour. She releases albums. She makes music videos. And she’s pretty damn brilliant at it if you ask me. During the podcast we begin our conversation by walking through her life, from being conceived while her parents were running a music festival to finding her voice at a young age to packing up her belongings and moving to Nashville to continue her musical adventure. Sarah and I walk through how her creativity blossomed, how she overcomes performance fear, how she overcame criticism and we breakdown how she creates and writes. We also talk about creativity and how important it is in all of our lives. We talk improv and “going with the flow” dancing. We talk insecurities and how we can free ourselves. We talk intentional living (which by now you know I am a huge proponent of so it was great to hear someone else talking about it). We talk being the creator of our own life. And while Sarah is a wonderful musician where she really shines is being human. Sarah and I recorded the podcast several days ago, but as I write this I’m still being positively effected by the depth she was willing to take the conversation. I don’t even know if my words can do it justice. Sarah brought a level of understanding and vulnerability to the conversation that blew my mind. I hope you are inspired by Sarah as much as I was. Just listening to her walk through her aspirations, her beliefs and her hurdles in life is a lesson to all of us to focus on the positive, chip away at our false beliefs and grab life by the horns. To Sarah: Thank you. That was an incredible marathon podcast. It reshaped what Mindsoak can be. It was beautiful. Oh, and thanks for hooking me up with your dad…that dude is awesome. To everyone else, enjoy the podcast. It’s a long one so feel free to pause us, go about your life and then come back when you have more time. Now go find out more about Sarah by visiting www.sarahaili.com and make sure to follow her on all her social media sites. Make sure grab her album on iTunes and you can also check out more of her songs at SoundCloud.

Dawn Garcia wears many hats. She’s a journalist, author, screenwriter and editor. I first learned of Dawn through her magazine, ATOD Magazine (which stands for A Taste of Dawn) and knew right away she was someone I wanted to talk to. Dawn also has over 20 years experience in film and TV production, starting with her career as a makeup and special effects artist. She started her writing career after being given positive feedback from the one and only Francis Ford Coppola. When I think of Dawn I see a “no-holds-barred, experience life to the fullest, find the sexy in everything and don’t ask for permission” maestro who revels in pushing the boundaries of her experiences. Dawn and I discuss ways in which she’s creative, the courage it takes to be a public persona, her writing methods, how she almost worked as a make up artist on the set of Star Wars and how she doesn’t fear experiencing all the wonders our world has to offer. I love how Dawn experiences lifestyles, food and culture. She just dives into new experiences and pulls her readers in with her. Her passion is vivacious and it shows in her writing and in the podcast. I admire all these things about Dawn. But what I absolutely love about Dawn is her genuineness. She’s all about exploring herself and the human condition. I ask some deep questions about her regrets and feelings of vulnerability. We explore letting go of false beliefs and what she admires about herself. Dawn’s answers, and her ability to be 100% transparent and humble, take us down some interesting discussion threads on feeling alive, being courageous and silencing self doubt. I also talk Dawn into coming to Dubuque for a Tri-State foodie and travel assignment! And I nudge my way on to the TV show she is developing. You can find out more about Dawn at ATOD Magazine, dawngarcia.com and learn about her pop up dinner series, White Lies + Alibis. You can also follow Dawn on all the social media outlets: Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

I’ve known Brad Cavanagh for almost ten years. But it seems like we’ve been friends for a lifetime. Brad is a social worker by trade, a professor, he’s been a therapist and he’s a deep thinker. Time with Brad, usually on a deck, in front of a fire pit or wandering some farmland, usually lasts until 2 or 3 A.M. He’s just one of those people you don’t want to stop talking to. He’s also the main reason I got off my ass and actually launched Mindsoak. I love debating politics and world solutions with Brad. One, because we never get angry with one another even though we might be coming from opposite ends of the spectrum. And two, because he’s so thought out, well researched, reality based and confident in his perspective. Where I am shooting from the hip and flying by the seat of my pants. Sidetone: Brad and I enjoy play online video games with each other and have been doing so for quite a while. In the games we play there are usually two major tactics. One is be methodical, take your time, wait for the right opportunity and stay hidden. The other is run in like a madman, try to react to whatever situation is thrown at you and create as much chaos as possible. In fact, there is a game in which one of the tools you can use is a “snakecam” which allows you to look under the door to see what awaits you on the other side. I’ve come to call Brad “Snakecam” for his calm, measured approach to breaching a room while I patiently wait beside him itching to bust into the room and cause as much mayhem as possible. But guess what, when it comes to snakecam-ing life and solutions, Brad is brilliant at it. That’s why he started The Realist Idealist. And that’s why we should all be reading his ideas for solutions to some of society’s greatest problems. The man thinks of all the ideas, weighs all the options and makes decisions based on facts. I hope you enjoy our conversation as we discuss his ideas for The Realist Idealist and we meander through his history and what shaped his perspective on life. Here are the links to some of the books and products we discuss on the podcast (clicking through to the links will take you to Amazon. If you decide to purchase the product through these links Mindsoak get’s a little kickback for sending you.): * The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt * The Round House: A Novel by Louse Erdrich * America’s Bitter Pill: Money, Politics, Backroom Deals, and the Fight to Fix Our Broken Healthcare System by Steven Brill * Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko and Larry McMurtry * The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell * Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit by Daniel Quinn Make sure you also follow Brad at www.therealistidealist.com, on Twitter and on Facebook. Brad also recently wrote an essay for titled “In The Box” Mindsoak.

Hello, Jon here. Today is going to be forever known as Veronica Day. (Sorry Dad, I know it’s your birthday today, but Veronica gets it.) Why is today Veronica Day? Because we’re releasing her essay (below) and her second episode of the podcast! Today we are also announcing Veronica’s brand new, glittery podcast; The New York Import! She’ll be interviewing people, like herself, who imported to New York and we’ll learn all about their trials, tribulations and experiences. Listen to the podcast to hear more about The New York Import podcast! So without further ado…here’s Veronica. Make sure to scroll to the bottom if you want to listen to her episode! New Year’s Eve has always been my favorite day of the year, and the subsequent weeks always find me on a particularly nefarious high. I feel emboldened and exhilarated- in the way only true change can make you feel. The turning of a new chapter is always something to be celebrated, and the dawn of a new year gives us the chance to do so right alongside our comrades in arms, accompanied by all the sparkle, glitter, and kisses we can find. It’s because of such spirit and fanfare that I decided many years ago to forego the customary setting of a new year’s resolution. That’s right. I am resolute to the ride- the beautiful, intangible perfection of the journey. Yes, of course, I have daily goals that I am unwaveringly committed to. More so than that, though, I am committed and opened of mind to the expansion that comes which such a big turning point as a new year. We are all riding high on such great, forward-thinking momentum, and I choose this time of year to listen to my heart and let myself be guided by the magic that surrounds this season of uplift and focus. Speaking for myself, these days are a perfect time to acknowledge all of the change and evolution that has gone on over the previous months. New friends, new hobbies, new loves- all thanks to the ever-winding ride that is life. Reflecting back on any moments originally perceived as “missteps” that can now be seen clearly, and often celebrated for all of the wondrous- once unforeseen- greatness that has birthed from them. I am thankful for loved ones and advocates for their continued support, because whether it’s the family we chose or the family we were born with, they have all come into our experience for a reason and have contributed more than we sometimes realize. And take the time to celebrate even the smallest of victories, for they all have such a profound place in the story of our lives. I suppose if there is anything I can say in regards to the subject of resolutions, it would be this: please be kind to yourself, no matter what the outcome of your chosen resolution might be. Because negative drive is incompatible with positive results, and too often people are excessively hard on themselves. Yes, live a decisive life. Yes, by all means, honor thy commitments. You should also be gentle with yourself and allow for the passing of a new year to bring with it unanticipated growth and goals. Know that every moment in your life is a chance to reinvent yourself. After all, we are always on our path- as my fairy godfather and dear Mindsoak colleague would say- and at any given moment it is your great privilege to deviate from the “plan” in favor of honoring a higher calling that may be beckoning from within. Because what is the “plan” anyway, if not to follow your heart and live your fullest life? What is the point, if we cannot heed the call of our spirit and enjoy the deliciousness of disruption and reinvention? Trust yourself to go with your gut. Who knows…your inner voice/source/angel might just have a grander plan in store for you yet. Either way, I’ll see you at spin class tomorrow.

Adam Ivy is a man of many talents. As I learned more about Adam I needed to have him on to talk about productivity and entrepreneurship. Reading about Adam’s story intrigued me to no end. He relentlessly pursues creating genuine content and brands. And I needed to know how he was able to remain at such a high level of productivity with the variety of roles he plays throughout the day. On one hand Adam’s a music producer creating and selling music beats online. He’s an award winning creative marketing specialist. He’s launched an athletic apparel line and created a unique and distinct brand. He’s a YouTube personality. And he’s from Wisconsin. And he’s a good dude. We start the episode by talking about his entrepreneurial start at the age of 23. How he turned $800 into a six figure income by producing beats for other musicians to purchase online. Adam is a big supporter of taking “calculated risks”. We discuss how he took a leap of faith and moved from Wisconsin to Florida to fulfill his dream and take the next step. How he believed in himself and knew he needed to continuously challenge his comfort level in order to take his businesses and life to the next level. Adam discusses what it takes to have the courage to create, both audio and video, and the productivity skills necessary to keep driving towards your goals. It was great to hear the story of how Adam created his apparel line Jusbi. Creating a clothing line is no simple task and getting to pull the curtain back on his productivity and the challenges he faced to launch a business in which he didn’t have any prior experience. We also got into some of his suggestions about fitness and nutrition and how he keeps his productivity up in the gym and in the kitchen. I always love hearing about someone’s workout routine so it was a good time discussing all of this with Adam. I will keep true to my word to have him back on again to discuss more about nutrition and fitness. You can find Adam on all the social media sites: YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and of course, AdamIvy.com.

I’m always appreciative of the time I get to spend talking to Mr. Paul Lemley. He’s one of the kindest people you’ll meet and I like pulling the curtain back to get a peek at what is going on in that head of his. Paul is back to update us on his projects, going out on his own in business and to follow all the tangents Paul and I usually take when we’re chatting. Enjoy!

Michael C. Bryan. And me. That is all. We talk closing out 2016 with a bang and what’s in store for our 2017. We talk feelings of guilt, the pursuit of happiness and the meaning of life. And some Star Wars: Rogue One. It’s an exquisite episode with an exquisite guest. Thank you Michael! As always, learn more about Michael at www.mcbhappier.com

Howdy, Michael C. Bryan here and welcome to another episode of The Michael C. Bryan Hour- where nothing is taboo.  Disclaimer: things might get provocative. Discretion is advised. The other day I attended a panel in Manhattan where the heads of the largest media corporations in the world talked about the future of digital media.    Although the rhetoric was as circular as a political debate (well-intended but numbing babble about the same questions over and over) the bottom line was that the world is changing and we either blend or change with it, or we dig out feet into the ground and refuse to expand.  As my dead mother would have said, “No shit, Sherlock.”  Refusal to blend with now and the future has always been the issue for most people stuck in the past. I wanted something new and all I was hearing was the same old, same old. I was a tad bored and tired (it was 8AM mind you) until one rather tall and good-looking executive (wearing very sexy, black motorcycle boots) said, “We’re no longer living in a binary world.  Everything now is non-binary.  We either embrace that truth and evolve, or we stay stagnant and totally lose touch with the world.” I got an intellectual chubby when I heard that, and not only because the guy saying it had really big boots (*cough, cough*) but because prior I had interviewed my friend Drew who, up until only a few years ago, had the exterior of a biological female and is now externally (he’s always been internally) a male.   I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of a non-binary life, meaning, a life which is a blending of more than one gender and one sexual identity. While those two things are very different (gender and sexual identity, like nature versus nurture and Madonna versus Beyoncé) there is something so very right about men becoming more whole by embracing their femininity and women embracing their masculinity.   I write this knowing if there is one button that can be pressed with a lot of people, it’s by someone whose gender isn’t entirely clear.  It freaks people out.  It makes us question our own gender, what it means to be our own gender and what our sexual desires are.   We don’t like not being clear if someone is male or female.  When someone lives in that rare land of ambiguity it makes people uncomfortable because it causes them to feel unstable sexually.   Not for many of my friends, but I suspect even some of them don’t do well with it.  My favorite comment when I talk about my friends who happen to be transgender is “Oh, I’m okay with it” as if my friends needed them to be okay with their fluid gender identification.  Reminds me of the old saying, “Oh, some of my best friends are gay”, followed by the “I’m okay with it” as if it needed a stamp of approval.  Can only imagine some of the conversations David Bowie sat back and marveled at years ago.     While I’ve never questioned my gender, I’ve had lots of great sex with drag queens and I’ve dressed in drag myself.  I can’t say I’ve have a fetish for heels and stockings, but I also can’t say I don’t.  Years ago when I was living in the east village in Manhattan I knew this guy I’ll call Carl.  He was from a prominent family, flamingly gay and had a fabulous, broken down apartment in the east village.  All of the apartments in the east village that are of the older variety seem two seconds away from bursting into flames.  His was no exception.  Huge and sprawling and dirty and cavernous.  It was dark and full of shadows and wonderful. Carl was a slightly infamous drag queen in Manhattan.  Always with bushy eyebrows and a demure skirt and a sensible hat and very minimal makeup.  Whenever I was around him I felt like I was hanging out with Martha Stewart with a dick and a very deep voice.  We flirted and had a fun little romance.  During sex I used to ask him to keep on his heels and skirt and he didn’t like that much.  He wanted to be

Howdy, Michael C. Bryan here and welcome to another episode of The Michael C. Bryan Hour- where nothing is taboo. Disclaimer: things might get provocative. Discretion is advised. The other day I attended a panel in Manhattan where the heads of the largest media corporations in the world talked about the future of digital media.   Although the rhetoric was as circular as a political debate (babble and babble about a whole lot of nothing) the bottom line was that the world is changing and we either blend or change with it, or we dig out feet into the ground and refuse to expand.  It was the old discussion of data versus content, and I was bored until one executive said “We’re no longer living in a binary world.  Everything now is non-binary.  We either embrace that truth and evolve, or we stay stagnant and totally lose touch with the world.” I got an intellectual chubby when I heard that, and not only because the guy saying it had really big shoes (*cough, cough*) but because a few days prior I had interviewed my friend Drew who, up until only a few years ago, had the exterior of a biological female and is now externally (he’s always been internally) a male. I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of a non-binary life, meaning, a life which is a blending of more than one gender and one sexual identity. While those two things are very different (gender and sexual identity, like nature versus nurture and Madonna versus Beyoncé) there is something so very right about men becoming more whole by embracing their femininity and women embracing their masculinity. I write this but I also know if there is one button that can be pressed with a lot of people, it’s someone whose gender isn’t entirely clear.  It freaks people out. We need to know.  We don’t like not being clear if someone is male or female.  When someone lives in that rare land of ambiguity it makes people uncomfortable because it cause them to feel on unstable sexual and gender ground.   It’s why you either loved David Bowie or just didn’t get him. While I’ve never questioned my gender, I’ve had lots of great sex with drag queens and I’ve dressed in drag myself.  I can’t say I’ve have a fetish for heels and stockings, but I also can’t say I don’t.  Years ago when I was living in the east village in Manhattan I knew this guy I’ll call Carl.  He was from a prominent family, flamingly gay and had a fabulous, broken down apartment in the east village.  All of the apartments in the east village that are of the older variety seem two seconds away from bursting into flames.  His was no exception.  Huge and sprawling and dirty and cavernous.  It was dark and full of shadows and wonderful. Carl was a slightly infamous drag queen in Manhattan.  Always with bushy eyebrows and a demure skirt and a sensible hat and very minimal makeup.  Whenever I was around him I felt like I was hanging out with Martha Stewart with a penis and a very deep voice.  We flirted and had a fun little romance.  During sex I used to ask him to keep on his heels and skirt and he didn’t like that much.  He wanted to be all man with me, and the funny part was I was less attracted to him out of a dress than in a dress. I’ve worn drag and dressed up my entire life, but not in a way where I tried to pass as a woman in public. I mean, I was never one to throw on a mini skirt and go buy a gallon of milk.  I was more of a dress up and parade in bars and in cars and be a bit of a whore and laugh late into the night guy.  But that’s all play and enjoying the fun of drag which, as we all know, is a means to make fun of social norms of what is socially acceptable behavior, and if there one thing I adore it’s smashing the taboos of what is acceptable behavior. Which is why I find it odd that so many gay men love drag queens, but don’t want to fuck a drag queen even when the drag queen is out of drag and clearly a man.  Something is off in all that and I

There are friends. And then there are FRIENDS. I met Bart Leavens when I was 6 years old. He became my neighbor. Then my friend. Then my best friend. My mentor. Then my best man. And to this day, he’s the closest thing I could ever have to a brother. Bart’s the kind of friend, the kind of man, that if you needed anything in the world, he would help you get it. If I called him right now and needed help, he’d be here without hesitation. That’s the kind of person you want in your corner for your entire life. Bart introduced me to comic books (I tell my wife to blame him for my addiction), mentored me in the ways of being a stand up guy and was there for every step of the way of what I can call a near perfect childhood. To this day, when we are together my face will hurt from the laughing. Bart is family. I’ve done almost 50 episodes on Mindsoak and I hadn’t had him on yet to reminisce about our past. Thank you for the indulgence of letting me go down memory lane and talk about our inane, but wonderful, childhood. And thank you Bart. For everything.

What is the state of show business? What’s it like to be a working actor? What’s it like to shoot a sex scene? These are all things I discuss with Sam Lukowski in this episode and much, much more. Sam’s a working screen actor started his path when he was 6 years old and has been going strong ever since. Sam has the unique ability of looking, sounding and acting like multiple people. I know, I know, he’s an actor and he’s supposed to do that. But watch his demo reel and you’ll be amazed. I mean, Tom Hanks is Tom Hanks is Tom Hanks. A great actor, but Tom is Tom. Or Brad is Brad. Or Scarlett is Scarlett. But while I was watching Sam’s demo reel I really had to take a second to realize which character he was. He can morph his voice, his look and everything in between. I ask him about this in the episode, his ability to assimilate to the scene and how empathy plays a roll in acting. Fascinating answers ensued. Then we strayed into the topic of shooting sex scenes. Sam says it’s as awkward as it sounds like…but I bet we have no idea what it really feels like to be on a set with multiple people staring at you (and recording) and having to pull of intimacy AND be exposed, vulnerable and professional. Yeah. Awkward. And amazing. All that the same time. To find out more about Sam follow him on Twitter @SamLukowski, check out his website at www.samlukowski.com and make sure to watch his demo reel (although be prepared for some violent scenes…you’ve been warned.)

It’s a podcast of firsts today. I was lucky enough to guest host for Jon on this episode of The Mindsoak Project, and it was a new and exciting experience as I’ve never done this before. When Jon asked me if I’d be interested and if I had someone in mind who I would like to interview, the first person that came to mind was Ed. Edmund Curran is a Baltimore-based filmmaker who has done and continues to have his hand in, everything when it comes to making a movie. He writes, acts, films, records sound, mixes, directs, and edits. It’s also his very first time being interviewed for his creative work. We talk about ambition, creativity, what he looks for when telling a visual story, and get into what it really means to be an indie filmmaker. Ed also tells the story behind what got him started and why is he still passionately pursuing making films. There was a lot good information and great insight from someone behind the camera making the movie magic come alive. I hope you enjoy this conversation between Ed and myself, if so, then please leave a review and rating on iTunes. – Joe Cardamone If you’d like to see what Edmund Curran is up to, his projects, and follow his social media then check out the links below: Website: edmundcurran.com Videos: vimeo.com/Twelvesteed https://www.youtube.com/user/MiscFilmProjects Instagram: www.instagram.com/edfortyfive/

Edward Kearns is an American author, torn between both coasts. Born and raised in Phoenix, he finally grew up in Brooklyn, honing his craft to write his way home. His work has appeared in Spillers, Four Chambers, Carrier Pigeon, Pearl Magazine, Used Gravitrons, By the Overpass, and Having a Whiskey Coke with You. Ed comes on the podcast to talk writing, being an author and honing his craft. We talk how empathy is the most important aspect of fiction writing, travel writing for websites and the courage it must take to get up in front of an audience and live read your words. We also have the tangental conversation known to Mindsoak and walk through the journey he and his wife (With friends) embarked on traveling from Europe to NYC in 2006 and through Africa in 2011. We meander through Ed’s favorite tv shows, movies, writers and books and he gives me some advice for where to start reading Hemingway. You can find collections of Ed’s fiction and essays on edkearns.com, Amazon, and independent bookstores.

Howdy, Michael C. Bryan here and welcome to another episode of The Michael C. Bryan Hour- where nothing is taboo. Disclaimer: things might get provocative. Discretion is advised. “We are all made of star stuff.” – Carl Sagan “I am putting myself to the fullest possible use, which is all I think any conscious entity can ever hope to do.” – HAL from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey – Stanley Kurbrick/Arthur C. Clarke I had no idea what to expect when I was getting ready to talk to Hannah Perry who is the Founder and CEO of The Giggling Pig, a company created to foster the growth and happiness of children. I knew that I loved her company name at first blush, and that her photo made me giddy inside (in that happy gay guy who likes fabulous woman kind of way). I also knew I was doomed when I knew she helped kids since my two weak spots are dogs and kids. I can’t be impartial with either one of them no matter how hard I try. I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve seen a baby on the New York City subway and wanted so badly to hug them and as I lock eyes with them and smile and we giggle and giggle, the parents glare at me as if to say, “Yo. Dude. Stop staring at my baby.” It’s cool. I get it. No matter how sweet I may appear, it’s still their brood and when it comes to our brood emotions run hot. Before the call began I knew I’d probably like her, and to my delight by the end of the call I was in love with her in that reckless way. I’m going to assume she has that effect on people. Our call went everywhere as most of my talks in life go. To matters of life, love ,and death. But mostly to life. She told me on the call a story she had about a dream that’s never left her. While I don’t want to give the ending away, it involved stars and a thumbprint and the inextricable truth we all come to at some point in our lives (hopefully sooner than later) and that’s there’s a unifying reason for all that we’re going through. That we do have the ability to affect time and space and the only reason we don’t know that is because we’ve lost sight of our own faith for short bursts of time. It was a glorious conversation with a truly sublime human being. You’ll never look at stardust the same way again. Visit Hannah and her wonderful team at The Giggling Pig and follow the links to all of their fun social media platforms!

For quite some time I’ve had the desire to create a journal for my own productivity and intentional living. If you’ve listened to the podcast before you’ve heard me mention it. There is nothing on the market like I wanted and so I decided to create one myself, call it the Mindsoak Daily Journal, use it for a while and then see about releasing it to the masses. Then one day I was going through Instagram and came upon an advertisement for something called “Mind Journal”. My jaw dropped and I quickly clicked on the link to see who the son of a bleep was who stole my idea. It was then I was first introduced to this Ollie Aplin fellow. He seemed nice enough from his picture, but I still wasn’t sold. Then I started seeing the images of the journal and I fell in love with the design and the idea of Mind Journal. I hastily pulled up his website, found the Contact Me section and wrote out an email basically saying, “I had a similar idea, you got to it first, your design is beautiful, I am so happy this product exists and I want you to come on the podcast.” I hit send and figured I’d never hear from him. But I did. And Ollie was wonderful. And we got on the phone and talked about the journals and what we wanted in a journal. What we liked about good design. And what we want from life. And we clicked. And then Ollie was nice enough to send me a Mind Journal. And I unboxed it. And I was in awe of his design and product presentation. And I walked around showing everyone how amazing it was. And then we recorded a conversation for the podcast. And Ollie was as brilliant as his journal. “I’m just a normal guy, that’s just been through some stuff.” -Ollie Aplin We discuss why he had the idea for creating a journal that did not exist. Ollie is a graphic designer by day so when you see the Mind Journal you are going to want to sleep in it. It’s so comfortable and welcoming and beautiful. He explains coping with the loss of his mother to suicide as a young man. How he initially coped with the grieving and what lead him to exploring therapy and journaling. And what success he had doing both. Since Ollie says it better than I ever could, here is a video summing up his journey and the creation of the Mind Journal. So, if you want this same level of exploration in your journaling go pick up the Mind Journal. You won’t regret it. You can purchase the Mind Journal at www.mindjournals.com. You can learn more about Ollie on Twitter at @OllieAplin_, on Instagram at @ollieaplin. You can also follow Mind Journal on Twitter at @mindjournals_. Thank you again Ollie…I owe you a journal my brother!