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Challenge.Me
Challenge.Me episodes
- Paradise Starts In Hell 3: Enjoy the SuckThis is part 3 in a 6-series episode. I originally published this as a single 38-minute episode. But I decided to break it into 6 small, manageable chunks.7 min
- Paradise Starts In Hell 2: The Mt. Washington Mansion & TrailerThis is part 2 in a 6-series episode. I originally published this as a single 38-minute episode. But I decided to break it into 6 small, manageable chunks.7 min
- Paradise Starts In Hell 1: It's getting hot in hereDon't you wish people could wait on you all the time? Imagine having a personal chef who would make you whatever you wanted whenever you wanted it. Or imagine having the car of your dreams. The house of your dreams. Vacations. Leisure. Fun. Shopping. Netflix and chill. Disneyland. What's your paradise? Well, the road to paradise doesn't start in paradise. If you want to live in paradise, there are some secrets to getting there. I can't wait to tell you. Haha. See you inside.8 min
- GhostedWhere the hell have I been? I did 56 podcasts in 56 days and then disappeared like a ghost. So what happened? Let me put it this way. I didn't want this to happen. But I'm glad it happened because now I have a great lesson (and podcast) to share with you. Here's to being back!23 min
- Automatic SystematicIf your teacher offered you an automatic B on a final exam, would you take the B and not take the test? The automatic systematic response is that most people would jump at the opportunity and become dancing machines from their excitement.So which are you? Are you an A player or a B player? Today's challenge is about being honest with yourself and finding your tribe.P.S.: The title of this podcast is a reference to a #1 hit song from the 70's. Can you guess what it is?29 min
- Go Fly a KiteWhen I was in the 5th grade, I was told to go fly a kite .... with a 1st grader. Then I was told to go read .... to kindergartners. Aside from scaring the crap out of me at age 10, these exercises taught me an important lesson: doing things for others makes you happy. Now new research from a Ph.D professor at Elon University in North Carolina goes a step further. She says that "Happiness comes from trying to make others feel good, rather than oneself."The ultimate student challenge is not just about getting great grades. It's about balance. And being happy is part of that balance. So, go grab your Happy Meal, put up your feet, and let's get our Happy on.29 min
- Convention and Conformity are B.S.What's popular is not always right, and what's right is not always popular. Stated differently, being uniquely you may not be popular to some people, but being uniquely you is the right thing to do.Today is about embracing what makes you different. If you feel different, that doesn't make you bad, it's what makes you special. Whatever you think is happening against you, is actually happening for you. If you feel that things are against you, just know that it gets better.Today, I share how things got better for me and how I embraced not fitting in. It's time to make some noise. It's time to challenge yourself. It's time to have the courage to be you. Let's roll people.47 min
- C-O-V-I-DRemote learning has been an overwhelming challenge for students. It has caused a mental health crisis and has severely disrupted student lives. In this episode, I discuss two twin students who went from A's to failing grades. I analyze the cause for their sudden drop in grades and give you my tips on what you can do to keep from falling in this hole. And if you have fallen in a hole, I will tell you what to do to get out of it.The COVID lockdown is just another challenge. And like any challenge, it can be overcome. Don't get fooled twice.Here are the keys to the kingdom:C-onsistencyO-ptimismV-alidationI-nspirationD-etermination33 min
- 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall99 bottles of beer on the wall, 99 bottles of beer.Forget about 99 bottles, apparently, one is too many. A new study just came out on May 12, 2021 from the University of Oxford. It's pretty disturbing. If I had known this information, I would never have started drinking.To drink or not to drink. That is the question that many high school and college students will be confronted with. And it's a decision that is often driven by peer pressure.Look, I'm not your parents. So, I'm not about to get on some soapbox and start preaching to you about drinking. It's your decision. But this new study talks about consequences that you probably never considered.Before I go, I want to make a toast. I'm dedicating this episode to your health and making informed choices. Salud!P.S.: Here's the link to the original Oxford study: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.05.10.21256931v114 min
- Hard Work 7: Party Time"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." According to Wikipedia the exact origins of this phrase remain unclear, though it was recorded as early as 1659. While its origins are unclear, the cause of dullness is clear. If all you do is work (study), you will become bored and a boring person. So, don't be a Jack. Get out of your Jack-in-the-box and have some balance.You will notice that I just spent the last 6 episodes to impress upon you that some of the most successful people are not the most talented, and that their secret is hard work. But to conclude the series, I made this episode so you don't get the wrong idea. Yes, I want you to work hard. But too much of anything is not a bad thing. It's all about balance. Don't be lazy. Don't be a workaholic. Make sure to develop all of you, not just one-dimensional you.P.S.: If you really want to freak yourself out, go to YouTube and watch this scene from the 1980 movie The Shining. Type this into Google, "THE SHINING (1980) - All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." It's very creepy and a good example of what happens when you want to be a dull Jack.20 min
About Challenge.Me
From the publisher's feed
The number one lie that we tell ourselves is that you have to be smart to get A’s in school.
But it’s not true.
Did you ever have a sick feeling in your stomach because everybody else in class was getting it, but you didn’t? Is it like World War 3 every night to get your high school student to do their homework? Or if you are a student, are you suffering from depression, stress, or anxiety because you feel like you are defined by your grades, but you want so much more out of your life?
Hi, my name is Damian Castaneda. I have been a litigation attorney in California for 21 years. I struggled in school. And I felt less than everybody else because I was in the slow group. I never understood what the heck the teacher was talking about. But one day all of that changed. And I want to show you how that can change for you.
I am on a mission to create a worldwide movement to help students learn the secret skills to getting “A’s” in school and still have a social life. I am doing this because I am the student that nobody believed in. But I believe in you. I believe that you CAN excel in school. I believe you really CAN be the person you have dreamed of becoming. I believe that you are just one A away from self-confidence, one A away from getting your parents off your back, and one A away from getting into the college of your dreams.
Stop listening to people who just tell you to get better grades, but don’t show you how. Join me on the ultimate student journey that I call Challenge.Me.