2 Men 1 Mic

Loyalty is often times displayed in the most challenging of times.

The famous group Whodini released a song in the 80’s that became an anthem for loyalty and friendships! The lyrics are a perfect backdrop for this episode. For all of our millennial and younger listeners, check out some of the lyrics:

Chorus:
Friends, how many of us have them
Friends, ones we can depend on
Friends, how many of us have them
Friends, before we go any further let’s be friends

In this episode of 2 Men 1 Mic, Marc and Tavarus dissect a few nuances related to loyalty.  Loyalty has been associated with such terms as support, allegiance, and faithfulness to name a few.

Marc and Tavarus dive into an interesting conversation about loyalty in the context of friendships, marriage, gender based stereotypes, and our various cultural influences. What does this word mean to you?

Another brilliant stanza of the same song says:

Verse:
We like to be with some, because they're funny
Others come around when they need some money
Some you grew up with, around the way
And you're still real close too this very day

These prophetic rappers leaned in on the concept of loyalty from a friendship standpoint so much so that many of  who grew up in that era adopted these lyrics as the “code” on loyalty.  Again, what are your thoughts about loyalty and relationships?

Listen as we share our thoughts on:

• Loyalty as it Relates to Sex
• Loyalty as it Relates to Sexual Orientation
• Loyalty in Relation to Trust
• Trust Earners vs. Trust Givers

Here’s our takeaway:
We all have different ideas about this concept, which have been shaped by individual experiences, our own shallow and deep cultures and our individual worldviews.  Things have changed so much over the years, and time has presented us with the challenge maybe redefine cultural norms, rethink who and what we pledge our allegiance to, and how we view others as it relates to this concept of “loyalty”.

If you have suggestions about a topic you’d like to hear discussed, or would like to know more about how you can support this podcast, email us at[email protected]

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“Comparison is an act of violence against the self.” Iyanla Vanzant.

In this episode, Marc and Tavarus dive into a rich dialogue made up of personal stories and testimonies of past success, painful defeat, and lessons they’ve learned from both.

Society and culture puts such high demands on us, from as far back as many of us can remember, to be the best, excel, and win - at all costs. This pressure can also come from our familial influences, and tends to follow us throughout our lives; whether internally or externally. It tends to be more prevalent among males, and even more among Black males (these are opinions, and not necessarily statistically supported).

What if the cost of winning is too high, or better yet, what if always winning is just not a reality?
Should we not strive for it? Is it wrong to think that losing is NOT an option?
Is it realistic to think that we’ll never lose?
What do we do, or how do we process the emotions that arise, not if, but when we lose?

Marc and Tavarus both have rich histories of successes in many areas of life; they are starkly different (Marc has experienced many successes in the academic, music, and creative arts field, and Tavarus has done so in the academic, sports, and business arena). However, they’ve also both felt the grief of being so close to a dream, a vision, a wish, the apex of their lives - to have it all disappear faster than it came to be.

The conversation explores such questions as:

•  What does 2nd place/almost even mean?
•  What 2nd place finishes do you recall in your life?
• What impact did they have on you (mentally, physically, emotionally, etc..)?
• Competitive, Compete, Compare
• What are the strengths/dangers of comparing oneself to another?
• What role has competition played in your life?

Some of the key takeaways were:

• 1st place comes at a high price; but not all are willing to pay it.
• Some people are simply “better” than you.
• The need to compare oneself to others is a necessary reality for many, but much more of a prison for many more.
• Being the best you can be is all that can be expected of you, by you and by others.
• Winning at the “right” cost always outweighs winning at “any” cost.
• 2nd place is a weakness for those who misunderstand it, but an incredible character builder for those who embrace it.

If you have suggestions about a topic you’d like to hear discussed, or would like to know more about how you can support this podcast, email us at [email protected]

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“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that is has taken place” 
(Author Unknown)

In this episode, Marc and Tavarus dive into a rich conversation about the importance of effective communication. 

Communication by definition is the imparting or exchanging of information or news. 

We are, whether we know it or not, always communicating something. 

• It’s how we converse with the world around us.
• It happens in several forms:
  • Verbal
  • Nonverbal
  • Cerebral (right brain)
  • Facial
  • Body (language)
  • Visual
  • Audible
  • Silence 

In any type of communication, the hat you choose helps determine the emotion they feel.

• Dad hat, husband hat, friend hat, counselor hat, listener hat, parenting hat, CEO hat, brother hat, man hat, coach hat - whatever hat you are wearing at the moment helps determine your approach, and the emotion your audience feels. 

Some of the questions discussed are:

• Why is communication or effective communication so important?
• What constitutes effective communication or an effective communicator?
• How do you know if you’re an effective communicator?
  • HARD TRUTH: You’re probably not as effective as you think (watch a video of yourself, ask someone else).
  • How much of a role does “listening” play in the “ART” of communication?

3 Important questions you can ask yourself before you communicate:

1. What do I want them to know?
2. What do you want them to feel?
3. What do you want them to do (what are their next steps, what’s the call to action, what’s the application?)

If you have suggestions about a topic you’d like to hear discussed, or would like to know more about how you can support this podcast, email us at [email protected]

Follow us on IG @2men_1Mic for updates!

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Get to know your 2 Men 1 Mic hosts, Tavarus Hogans and Marc Dickerson. In this trailer they give you a little insight into:

•  Who they are
• What they're doing
• Why they're doing it
• When they're doing it
• How this came about
• What to expect

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