Be Awesome Together

Feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or like you're carrying the weight of the world alone? You're not. In this powerful and heartfelt episode of Be Awesome Together, hosts Charles and Tyra are joined by Chaplain Dale Simmons—a 22-year public safety veteran and mental health advocate—for a raw and real conversation about trauma, resilience, and the importance of talking about what we don’t want to talk about.

🔥 Whether you're in EMS, a creator, a college student, or just a human navigating a chaotic world, this episode is for you.

🎙️ Highlights include:

• Why mental health must come before burnout

• The power of peer support and finding your safe space

• How to survive dark days with tools like therapy, gratitude, and even humor

• What it means to be truly self-centered in a healthy way

• Creating systems that support healing—in EMS, classrooms, and life

👂 Are you listening? YOU MATTER. And you don't have to do this alone.

💬 Like. Subscribe. Share this with someone who needs to hear it.
📲 Find Dale’s blog and podcast at chaplains1033.com
🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you stream.

#MentalHealthMatters #EMS #FirstResponders #BeAwesomeTogether #Podcast #ChaplainDale #TraumaSupport #YouMatter #BurnoutRecovery #MentalWellness #PeerSupport #PublicSafety #PodcastCommunity #Authenticity #SelfCareNotSelfish

These shownotes were summarized by AI based on a transcript of the recording.

In this episode of Be Awesome Together, Tyra and Charles dive into the messy, beautiful reality of trying to stay motivated, creative, and connected when life feels like a nonstop marathon. From camera troubles and burnout to astrology, taxes, cookies, and creative goals, they share candid reflections on the emotional rollercoaster of juggling projects, careers, and personal growth.

They open up about the importance of community, the challenges of asking for help, and the magic that happens when we lean into connection instead of isolation. With plenty of humor and heart, they remind us that being awesome isn’t about doing it all perfectly — it’s about showing up, cheering each other on, and making space for joy, even when life feels overwhelming.

Get ready for laughs, honest insights, and inspiration to embrace the chaos, ask for what you need, and keep building your dreams — together.

00:00 — Welcome & Icebreaker
Tyra and Charles kick off with laughter, a cookie check-in, and a playful vibe about being “awesome together.”

04:30 — Burnout, Motivation & Creative Blocks
Charles opens up about camera struggles, burnout, and the mental load of juggling too many projects.

12:15 — Cookies, Astrology & Mental Health Check
Tyra dives into astrology insights and explains how cosmic tension can impact our emotions and motivation.

20:45 — Community & Support Systems
The duo talks about the power of community, how to avoid burnout, and why we need to check what we give vs. what we get.

32:10 — Tech Tools, AI & Dream Systems
They discuss streaming platforms, tech frustrations, and dream tools that could make digital life easier.

43:00 — Money, Hustle & Navigating Change
Candid talk about income, passion projects, transitions, and asking the universe for an “easy path.”

55:30 — Dragon Con, Growth & Personal Stories
Charles shares how Dragon Con shaped his growth and how creative success often means doing it your own way.

1:08:00 — Paul McCartney Quote & Optimism
Tyra shares inspiring lyrics about luck, love, and the power of togetherness.

1:15:20 — Looking Ahead: Mental Health Month & Guest Teaser
They preview upcoming mental health episodes and tease next week’s guest, Bob Magoo.

1:22:00 — Final Takeaways & Where to Find Us
A wrap-up on why community matters, reminders to keep pushing forward, and where to connect online.

• Tyra Burton → tyraburton.com

• Charles McFall → Linktree oneems

🔗 Connect with Us:

🎉 Tyra is back! After five weeks apart, Charles and Tyra reunite on Be Awesome Together for a hilarious, heartfelt, and high-energy episode you don’t want to miss. From tech glitches to fandom obsessions, this episode dives deep into:

🔹 The chaotic return of Tyra – and the mystery of the Batman couch
🔹 Shelf Watch 2025 – will the shelf ever be built?
🔹 Behind-the-scenes at Stellar Fest – including Tyra’s first-ever celebrity interview with Clayton Landey
🔹 Fandom, Taylor Swift & the NFL – how Swifties are changing marketing and sports economics
🔹 Dragon Con panel secrets & updates – what’s coming and who’s in
🔹 Finch app productivity hacks – how Tyra wrote 13K+ words in 30 days
🔹 How to turn passion into passive income – live streaming, podcasting, and digital creativity tips

Whether you're a cosplayer, content creator, Swiftie, or convention junkie, this episode is packed with laughs, insight, and inspiration.

👉 Hit play and join the conversation about creativity, fandom, marketing, and what it really means to be awesome together.

🎙️ In this episode of Be Awesome Together, Charles flies solo again without Tyra (but she's promised to be back next week!) and brings on a special guest, John O'Connell — known to many in the DragonCon community as "Quackfaster."

Highlights from the conversation:

• The Origin of "Quackfaster":
  John got his DragonCon badge name while volunteering for TechOps. It was a random assignment based on Scrooge McDuck's secretary, and it stuck!

• Architect by Day, Nerd by Nature:
  John is a professional architect, blending his background in visual arts with building design. Despite the technical side of architecture, he sees it as a deeply creative and communicative art.

• From Parades to Volunteering:
  His journey to DragonCon began by attending the parade with his kids, eventually evolving into full-on volunteering for TechOps, and now switching over to work with the Digital Media Track alongside his wife, Kai.

• Art, Theater, and Creativity:
  John has deep roots in visual arts and theater. He discussed his love for acrylic painting, urban landscapes, and his history of attending Alabama School of Fine Arts.

• Architecture Explained:
  John shared fascinating insights about architecture — from interpreting blueprints to the evolution of blueprint technology itself.
  Fun fact: Blueprints aren’t blue anymore — they’re regular black and white prints!

• Best DragonCon Memories:

  • Seeing the Mecha-Stewie cosplay that mashes creativity and humor.

  • Spotting Statler and Waldorf cosplay overlooking the Marriott Pulse Bar.

• DragonCon Guest Announcements:
  Charles revealed that the Digital Media Track will be welcoming:

  • The McElroys (My Brother, My Brother, and Me, The Adventure Zone)

  • Uploads of Fun (Josh and his kids)

  • Stoner Gump (fan favorite!)

Key Themes:

• Volunteering grows from small connections.

• Creativity is timeless — whether it's painting, cosplay, or architecture.

• DragonCon is built on incredible community moments, not just celebrity guests.

Topic: Art, Entrepreneurship, Fandom Community, and the Magic of Elf Ears!

In this episode, Charles welcomes artist, writer, and elf-ear creator Mike Bielaczyc into the new studio space! They first met at Chattacon 2024 on a panel about self-promotion for creatives, and now Mike joins to share his amazing journey blending art, fantasy, and small business.

Highlights:

• Mike’s Story: From being a laid-off computer guy to launching a creative business selling hand-painted elf ears at Renaissance festivals.

• Building a Dream: How a single booth at the Tennessee Ren Fest led to a full-time family business (with retirement plans!) making thousands of elf ears a year.

• Art + Business: Mike combined his skills in sculpture, painting, and website building to carve out a niche in the fandom world—selling handmade, color-matched elf ears and writing RPG campaigns.

• Breaking Through: How DragonCon, GenCon, and working with legends like Larry Elmore (Dragonlance) helped him grow his career and confidence.

• Community Matters: Mike shares why treating everyone with respect—from small cons to big shows—is crucial for long-term success.

• Real Talk About Digital: He explains why real-world connections ("meat space") are more powerful today than ever, even in a digital-heavy world.

• Giving Back: Mike donates art and time to inspire young creatives, encouraging them to value their art even when the world doesn't immediately see its worth.

• Current Projects: Mike is running a Kickstarter for a new D100 dice design—making dice rolls more fun for RPG fans everywhere!

Fun Bits:

• The famous ears have been worn by celebrities like Carson Daly and Martha Stewart.

• His company name "Aridani" came from his old EverQuest guild.

• Mike’s philosophy: "Find your people. Find where your madness fits. Build your own world if you need to."

Where to Find Mike:

• 🎲 Kickstarter: Search for "D100 Icosahedron Dice" on Kickstarter to support Mike’s project.

Be Awesome Together Reminder:
👉 Passion, persistence, and kindness are the keys to creative success.
👉 Help others be awesome, and we’ll all be awesome together!

Topic: Podcasting, Streaming, and Being Authentically You

This special episode of Be Awesome Together was recorded live at Stellar Fest, and it's all about creative energy, storytelling, streaming, and starting your podcasting journey—with a whole lot of laughs and shelf-watch updates thrown in!

✨ Co-hosts Charles McFall and Tyra Burton dive into:

• The behind-the-scenes of teaching a live-streaming class to honors college students

• What makes a great podcast background (staged, geeky, or gloriously messy?)

• Why audio quality matters more than video—but both are important

• The truth about perfectionism and imposter syndrome when starting your own show

• Tools, tips, and mindset shifts for anyone looking to launch a podcast or stream

• A heartfelt convo with future podcaster Ella about bringing passion to nonprofit media

• And of course… the ongoing saga of Shelf Watch 👀

🧠 Whether you're just thinking about launching a podcast or you're a veteran looking for community and laughs, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and hilarious real talk from fellow creators.

🎙️ Special guests from the audience include creators from the Fandom Hybrid Podcast, nonprofit founders, and passionate panelists discussing everything from fan culture to storytelling strategies.

🔧 Tools mentioned: Zoom, OBS, Audacity, Shure mics, B-Caster, Mac Minis, iPhones, and the power of a good pair of headphones 🎧

🛠️ Takeaway: Done is better than perfect. Your voice matters. Your passion is your brand.

🔗 Follow us at Linktree: DC Digital Media Track
🌐 Find Tyra at TyraBurton.com
🎤 Charles: Linktree.com/RGOP42

👍 Like, subscribe, and share if you believe in being #AwesomeTogether

In this special episode of Be Awesome Together, Charles welcomes Dot Cannon, longtime friend, storyteller, and creator of the Over Coffee podcast and founder of Two Maverix Multimedia in Long Beach, California. With Tyra out teaching an honors class on streaming and social media, Dot and Charles dive deep into the ever-evolving world of podcasting, storytelling, and the art-meets-tech landscape.

Dot shares her journey from a 21-year radio career to running her own media business, producing over 450 podcast episodes, and exploring virtual reality and immersive storytelling. They reflect on the changes in media since the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the value of human connection in interviews, and the creative power of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math).

🌟 Highlights include:

• How Dot transitioned from radio to podcasting

• Why storytelling matters more than stats

• Behind-the-scenes memories from early podcast expos

• The challenges of working with ads and staying authentic

• Dot’s upcoming scary story workshop and public speaking journey

• Why “success” in podcasting is more than just money

Whether you're a creator, listener, or just love a good story, this episode is packed with laughs, insights, and inspiration to keep doing what you love.

🧠 Want to hear more about Dot? Visit https://twomaverix.com or follow her latest creative projects!

📌 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to Be Awesome Together – and be sure to share this episode with a friend who needs a dose of awesome today.

Tired of being awesome alone? So are we! Join Charles McFall and Kevin Cafferty as they dive into an impromptu AMA-style episode of Be Awesome Together. With Tyra out teaching and a guest cancellation, Charles and Kevin keep the energy alive with honest conversations, laughter, and some behind-the-scenes insight into Dragon Con’s Digital Media Track.

🔥 Topics covered:

How to volunteer or get involved at Dragon ConBuilding panels and finding your voice

What makes a good co-host or panelistCreating inclusive, engaging programming

Lessons in branding, feedback, and community-building

The magic of chemistry, trust, and preparation in live events

Whether you're a content creator, con-goer, or just nerding out about immersive panels, podcasts, or pro tips—this one’s packed with value and fun.

👾 Want to be part of the Dragon Con Digital Media Track?

👉 Join the community: linktr.ee/dcdigitalmediatrack

👍 Like | 💬 Comment | 🔔 Subscribe

Let’s be awesome… together.

Imagine this: You’ve spent hours prepping for your live stream. You double-check your mic, your lights, your software. You hit “Go Live” … and then—nothing works.

Welcome to the world of content creation.

On this episode of Be Awesome Together, we’re pulling back the curtain on the real, unfiltered struggles of podcasting and live streaming with special guest David Lott from Flicker Effect! If you’ve ever battled last-minute tech failures, audio issues, or the pressure to keep up with content schedules, this one’s for you.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ How to handle tech fails like a pro (because they WILL happen)
✅ The best budget-friendly lighting setups for creators
✅ Why audio matters more than video—and how to make yours stand out
✅ The Twitch & YouTube struggle—is it worth live streaming?
✅ Behind-the-scenes stories from Dragon Con, digital media, & geek culture

🎧 Whether you’re a podcaster, YouTuber, Twitch streamer, or content creator, this episode is your behind-the-scenes guide to creating without the burnout.

🔴 Hit play now & let’s navigate the chaos together!

#BeAwesomeTogether #PodcastingFails #LiveStreaming #TechFails #ContentCreator #DigitalMedia #TwitchStreamer #DragonCon

Join hosts Charles McFall and Tyra Burton in this lively episode of "Be Awesome Together" as they welcome special guest and fantasy author Hollis Jo McCollum! The trio dives into geek culture, storytelling, and the quirks of being an indie writer. They reminisce about their favorite fantasy books, discuss Dragon Con memories, and share hilarious personal stories. Hollis talks about her journey as a writer, how she balances creativity with real life, and the unique ways she brings her fantasy worlds to life. Plus, they chat about upcoming events, book marketing challenges, and why sarcasm might just be a matter of IQ. Don’t miss this fun and insightful conversation filled with laughter, nerdy references, and a touch of chaos!