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Friends, what is Freedom if you don't take the time to enjoy it? In the past week it became very apparent to me that I've been neglecting one of the greatest gifts that I have been blessed to receive. That is freedom. As we, my wife and I, were preparing for an upcoming camping trip, I realized how little we do for fun these days. This became evident when I saw an unopened gift my wife had given me for my birthday last year.

It took a reality check for me personally this week to ask myself the question, what is freedom if I'm not taking the time to enjoy it? With that said, I am going to be taking some time off in the coming weeks. I will be pulling from the DTH archives some of the great conversations I've done thus far for your listening pleasure.

In light of the Islamist militant terrorist attack carried out at a hotel in Mogadishu by Al-Shabaab this past week, I am replaying my first conversation with my friend "Average Mohamed" where we talked about "Battling Extremism with an Alternative Narrative"
Please listen and share this timeless and important message with your network of friends. 

What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people, and that begins with each of us leading a better life. Be kind to one another, be grateful for everything you’ve got, and make each and every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on Facebook, MeWe, Instagram, Twitter . Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio. Please leave us a rating and feedback. Send me a message on any media platform or subscribe directly from our sites

What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for everything you’ve got. Make each and every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or directly from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. Not on social media? You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our site’s contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

If you would like to support the show, you’re welcome to DONATE or shop our Derate The Hate Merchandise store by clicking here!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Send Wilk a text with your feedback!

Sometimes the prize is the experience itself. In this quick episode, I take on the defeatist attitude that unless you're going to win, why bother trying. That may be an exaggeration of the way it was said, but this comes as a result of something someone said to my wife recently regarding my participation in a BBQ contest.

So why do people compete in events when they know they have very little, if any chance of winning? Sometimes the prize is the experience itself. I use as an example, the Boston Marathon. Now, I'm in no way comparing a local BBQ contest to the Boston Marathon. To be clear, this is about the lesson, not the contest itself. 

The episode is short. I believe the lesson is valuable. I hope you find as much value in the lesson as I did thinking about it. Every contest is not just about winning. Sometimes the experience is all that really matters. Get out there, have some fun! The world needs more of it!!

What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people, and that begins with each of us leading a better life. Be kind to one another, be grateful for everything you’ve got, and make each and every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on Facebook, MeWe, Instagram, Twitter . Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio. Please leave us a rating and feedback. Send me a message on any media platform or subscribe directly from our sites. Let us know about someone you think should be on our podcast, and if we book them for a conversation, I’ll send you a free gift! Not on social media? You can share your thoughts directly with me at [email protected]

I look forward to hearing from you!

Please check out our affiliates page by clicking HERE!

What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for everything you’ve got. Make each and every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or directly from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. Not on social media? You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our site’s contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

If you would like to support the show, you’re welcome to DONATE or shop our Derate The Hate Merchandise store by clicking here!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Send Wilk a text with your feedback!

What role does fear and trust play in the gun safety debate? I recently sat down for a follow up conversation on the topic of gun safety with 2 friends of mine from Braver Angels. In December of 2021, I conducted a round table event with some friends on the same topic. A lot of things were left unsaid and unresolved in that conversation, as many conversations go when it comes to contentious topics. I asked my friends Mark Beckwith and Paul Norris to rejoin me for this follow-up conversation.

Paul Norris graduated from UC Berkeley. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a masters’ in counseling. A gun owner from age 12, he is an NRA Benefactor member and an advocate for gun safety. He worked at Apple Computer and UCSF in software development and the application of software to business and human needs. He is currently retired but still works part time in counseling. He is active in Braver Angels, serving as a moderator and state coordinator. 

Mark Beckwith Is a a bishop in the Episcopal Church and a long-time gun violence prevention activist. Mark is one of the co-founders of Bishops United Against Gun Violence.  Mark too is a leader in Braver Angels. He is passionate about helping people move beyond the confines of their political and religious silos in order to find common ground. Be sure to check out our show notes for the link to Mark’s recently published book “Seeing the Unseen, Beyond Prejudices, Paradigms and Party Lines”.

Mark and I also recently participated in a discussion on the Braver Angels Podcast:
Braving the Gun Divide | Mark Beckwith & Wilk Wilkinson with Ciaran O’Connor

What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people, and that begins with each of us leading a better life. Be kind to one another, be grateful for everything you’ve got, and make each and every day th

What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for everything you’ve got. Make each and every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or directly from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. Not on social media? You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our site’s contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

If you would like to support the show, you’re welcome to DONATE or shop our Derate The Hate Merchandise store by clicking here!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Send Wilk a text with your feedback!

 Do you trust that our public health officials are telling you the truth? This question, for me, lead to the Truth and Trust Project. I for one find myself very skeptical these days. As many who’ve listened to the DTH podcast for long know, I’ve been highly critical of the government’s response to the pandemic from the very beginning. How does someone like me have a conversation with someone who had direct influence on the government’s response to the pandemic? Not so long ago, I would say that the conversation would never happen, because my attitude would not have allowed it.

The Truth and Trust Project may be one of the most important endeavors of my life. Several times over the past several months, I asked the question, “if you could ask Dr. Francis Collins or Dr. Tony Fauci a question, what would that question be?”. For that question, I received nothing but negative responses. The most common response was some variation of, “I wouldn’t waste my time, they wouldn’t listen anyway”… I asked the question because I am currently involved in a Braver Angels initiative called the  “Truth and Trust Project” with Dr. Francis Collins and myself as partners. 

The only way we can expect as a country to rebuild Truth and Trust is to have conversations with those whom we disagree. The only way to get results from those conversations is to actually LISTEN to those with whom we disagree and look for the humility and humanity in their position. In this episode, Part 2 of 2, Francis and I discuss:

• Getting children vaccinated
• The doctor/patient relationship
• Government mandates
• The casualties of a free society
• Employer vaccine mandates (both in healthcare and the military)
• Vaccine efficacy and how that messaging has evolved
• the erosion of trust in government and public health officials

What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us leading a better life. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for everything you’ve got, and make each and every day the day that you want it to be!

Please foll

What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for everything you’ve got. Make each and every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or directly from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. Not on social media? You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our site’s contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

If you would like to support the show, you’re welcome to DONATE or shop our Derate The Hate Merchandise store by clicking here!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Send Wilk a text with your feedback!

Did you hear about the Nazis at the Turning Point USA event? If those in the media, and more specifically, the gals on The View trying to perpetuate the Hate, you probably wouldn't have. I thought it was another staged bit of nonsense. This is why I called up my friend Jeff Schoep.

We live in an age when certain people like to use their big platforms to perpetuate hate and false narratives to drive their own personal agendas. When I saw there were "Nazis" at the Turning Point USA student action summit in Tampa, Fl, I wanted to get the perspective of my friend Jeff Schoep. Jeff is the former head of the NSM ( National Socialist Movement) and the most high profile member of the neo-Nazi movement to leave the movement and devote his life to countering and preventing extremism. You may remember him from our conversation in Episode 70 of the Derate the Hate podcast.

Don't miss this short but important conversation! Let me know what you think...

What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for everything you’ve got. Make each and every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or directly from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. Not on social media? You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our site’s contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

If you would like to support the show, you’re welcome to DONATE or shop our Derate The Hate Merchandise store by clicking here!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Send Wilk a text with your feedback!

Do you trust that our public health officials are telling you the truth? I for one find myself very skeptical these days. As many who've listened to the DTH podcast for long know, I've been highly critical of the government's response to the pandemic from the very beginning. How does someone like me have a conversation with someone who had direct influence on the government's response to the pandemic? Not so long ago, I would say that the conversation would never happen, because my attitude would not have allowed it.

The Truth and Trust Project may be one of the most important endeavors of my life. Several times over the past several months, I asked the question, "if you could ask Dr. Francis Collins or Dr. Tony Fauci a question, what would that question be?". For that question, I received nothing but negative responses. The most common response was some variation of, "I wouldn't waste my time, they wouldn't listen anyway"... I asked the question because I am currently involved in a "Truth and Trust Project" with Dr. Francis Collins.

Dr. Francis Collins is a  physician-geneticist, Dr. Collins took office as the 16th NIH director on August 17, 2009, after being appointed by President Barack Obama. In 2017, he was asked to continue in his role by President Donald Trump, and in 2021, by President Joe Biden. As such, Dr. Francis Collins played an instrumental role in the government's response to the pandemic. There are many things with respect to the government's response to the pandemic that Francis and I disagree on vehemently. As men who dearly love our country and individuals who both hold strong to our values, we also recognize that there needs to be a better way forward. This starts by understanding that contentious topics don't have to result in a contentious conversations.

The only way we can expect as a country to rebuild Truth and Trust is to have conversations with those whom we disagree. The only way to get results from those conversations is to actually LISTEN to those with whom we disagree and look for the humility and humanity in their position. In this episode, Part 1 of 2, Francis and I discuss:

• How we met (origin of The Truth and Trust Project)
• 1st days of the pandemic and thoughts of those i

What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for everything you’ve got. Make each and every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or directly from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. Not on social media? You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our site’s contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

If you would like to support the show, you’re welcome to DONATE or shop our Derate The Hate Merchandise store by clicking here!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Send Wilk a text with your feedback!

"Don't Believe The Lies, Believe Your Life"... it wasn't but a few months ago when I first heard of Brian Echevarria. Nationally, he was little known with respect to politics but then a video of him speaking in front of his local school board went viral. This episode is not about politics, but about Brian's story. Family is his story...

Who is Brian Echevarria?
On February 14, 2022, Brian Echevarria was to be the 25th speaker at his local school board meeting in Cabarrus County, NC. Brian is passionate with regard to the controversial issues facing our children in the public school system today. Taboo issues like CRT and transgender athletes can quickly derail school board meetings, but Brian's impassioned & sensible speech got the country talking. The video quickly went viral and he became known as CRT Dad. Brian is much more than the name would imply.  Brian is a Republican candidate for NC House District 73 - Christian, Conservative, Husband, Father, Small Business Owner, and Community Leader.

In this episode we discuss:

• His speech at the school board meeting
• Don't believe the lies, believe your life... Real life is shutting off the news and getting out there to speak with your neighbors
• Family and family values, how politics touches all aspects of our lives
• LeBron James comments on Brittney Griner and the invisible "Black Tax"
• The Hate Mail he's received for telling his powerful story and love for his country
• His candidacy for NC House District 73 

What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people, and that begins with each of us leading a better life. Be kind to one another, be grateful for everything you’ve got, and make each and every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on Facebook, MeWe, Instagram, Twitter . Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio. Please leave us a rating and feedback. Send me a message on any media platform or su

What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for everything you’ve got. Make each and every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or directly from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. Not on social media? You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our site’s contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

If you would like to support the show, you’re welcome to DONATE or shop our Derate The Hate Merchandise store by clicking here!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Send Wilk a text with your feedback!

Does money buy happiness? If you find your happiness in material things, you might say yes. I would challenge whether that is real happiness. Material things may bring moments, or even periods of joy in one's life, but moments of joy are only a sliver of what amounts to true happiness.

Should money be the yardstick by which we measure happiness?
There is a concerted effort on the part of so many these days to divide the "haves" and "have nots". Have you noticed this? I make the case in this episode, as I do often on the DTH podcast, that Gratitude is a much better barometer of someone's happiness. Those who are grateful for what they have will always be happier than those who are focused on what they don't have.

"The greatest source of happiness is the ability to be grateful at all times" ~Zig Ziglar

Why the topic, "Does Money Buy Happiness?"
I recently read an article, "Here's how much money you need to make to be happy living in the US, according to study" on our local Fox affiliate that raised for me a larger issue. I think it's terrible that so many continuously drive this narrative that money somehow equates to happiness while never mentioning Gratitude or Personal Accountability as factors. Have a listen, let me know your thoughts...

What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people, and that begins with each of us leading a better life. Be kind to one another, be grateful for everything you’ve got, and make each and every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on Facebook, MeWe, Instagram, Twitter . Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio. Please leave us a rating and feedback. Send me a message on any media platform or subscribe directly from our sites. Let us know about someone you think should be on our podcast, and if we book them for a conversation, I’ll send you a free gift! Not on social media? You can share your thoughts directly with me at

What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for everything you’ve got. Make each and every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or directly from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. Not on social media? You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our site’s contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

If you would like to support the show, you’re welcome to DONATE or shop our Derate The Hate Merchandise store by clicking here!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Send Wilk a text with your feedback!

I recently read that a Gallup poll revealed that a record low number of Americans now believe in God. As I look around at all those that seem to be drifting through life like a ship without a rudder, it really comes as no surprise. It is very disheartening, but comes as no surprise. Is there answers to this age of outrage we're living through in the reality that people are losing their faith?

How does loss of faith relate to Hate and Anger?
I have often heard it said that those who are strong in their faith in God are happier than those who are not. This may be an answer as to why we are seeing acts of outrage increasing while the number of Americans who believe in God are decreasing.

How do we draw closer to God the creator?
This week's guest, Paul Rakowicz, provided some great insight into his thoughts on this topic. Paul is a fellow podcaster (The Created Order Podcast), pastor, author and Spiritual Fitness Christian Life Coach.
Paul has been studying and reading the Bible for over 30 years. With that experience came the passion to help fellow Christians.
Driven by that passion, Paul developed the Essential Spiritual Fitness Program, the simple yet proven method to help every Christian go beyond "mere salvation" into the fullness of the Kingdom.
Outside of helping disciples of Christ actively apply His teachings, Paul continues his career in the business world leading high performance teams. All the while, raising his family and writing books on our faith and its practical application in the real world.

Topics of discussion:

• Is there salvation through faith alone?
• What is our duty to God?
• What is the importance of Free Will?
• What is Poverty of Spirit?
• What is "dispassion" and the logical falacy?

Do not miss this powerful conversation and please visit Paul's site for a number of  incredible  spiritual fitness resources!
www.SpiritualFitnessProgram.com

What have you don

What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for everything you’ve got. Make each and every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or directly from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. Not on social media? You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our site’s contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

If you would like to support the show, you’re welcome to DONATE or shop our Derate The Hate Merchandise store by clicking here!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Send Wilk a text with your feedback!

Have you ever asked yourself the question, "what is the best way for me to obtain and secure a meaningful life?" or "Is hate getting in the way of me winning at life?"
 
 What is a meaningful life?
People find meaning in all different sorts of ways. For some, it's family, some it's career, some it's money and for some, and for many, it's just a matter of their own definition of success. For this week's guest, he knew that to secure a meaningful life, he must secure a happy life. With a background in engineering, he was determined to break down the most profound obstacles to happiness and fix the problem. What is the problem? Hate...

Dylan Rogers and his book, "Winning at Life"
Dylan J Rogers is infinitely driven to make a positive impact on the lives of others and has a relentless passion to inspire positive change.

As an experienced engineer, earning a Masters in Systems Engineering and working with the US military, Dylan developed the skills required to solve the most complex problems life has to offer. He also works as a Master Resilience Trainer, teaching Airmen how to thrive in life instead of just surviving through it. Dylan has learned from masters of change like Tony Robbins, and earned a life coaching certification through Tony’s program. And from the six year process of writing his book, Winning at Life, he has found the answer on how to discover the meaning in your life, how to create lasting happiness, and how to understand and remove the burden of hate. 

Utilizing his skills, love of challenges, and deep passion for guiding people to finding happiness and fulfillment, he helps and inspires others to create masterful lives. Dylan inspires others through his speaking engagements, coaching, and Winning at Life.

Follow and learn more about Dylan Rogers:
Website: https://dylan-rogers.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RogersInspire/?ref=page_internal
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanjrogersinspire/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSdlcnb_-a1f7kuokOn

What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for everything you’ve got. Make each and every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or directly from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. Not on social media? You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our site’s contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

If you would like to support the show, you’re welcome to DONATE or shop our Derate The Hate Merchandise store by clicking here!

I look forward to hearing from you!