It's Not All Bad

A nation's flag is often a symbol of pride and can signify that it's citizens are one people under that flag and constitution.  Indeed, the US flag is also such an important symbol of unity.  Yes, there must be acknowledgment that some people will use the flag as a rallying point of supremacy over others, exclusion of others, and even a longing for the "good old days" during which exclusion of whole swaths of Americans were demonized and relegated to almost a perpetual state of impoverishment as a demographic.  Fortunately, the American flag and the US Constitution actual stand for progression as a nation and oneness as a people.  Not always easy to get past the harmful rhetoric in today's political discourse, but our liberal democracy remains and still endures.  

In this short episode, we'll visit the US Pledge of Allegiance and the American flag beyond just symbolism.

The goal of my podcast is to discuss interesting topics either in solo episodes or with guests and guest-hosts. Sharing thoughts on different issues, especially those that are humorous, thoughtful, and thought-provoking, meaningful, insightful, and even heartwarming at times.

*LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stewart-devine

**Comments and/or opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own**

You can listen to and subscribe to, "It's Not All Bad," that's available from the following platforms and others wherever you listen to your podcasts:

*Google Podcasts - https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy82MDYwNGQ2MC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

*Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-not-all-bad/id1574392751?uo=4

*Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0X6Gn9zC85iEyfKbNmpINM

*Pocket Casts - https://pca.st/beu5r0lv

*RadioPublic - https://radiopublic.com/its-not-all-bad-WDjRy7

It's always saddening to hear or read the news of another mass shooting in America or any country for that matter.  Unfortunately, gun related deaths and mass shootings are normal in America.  No one can rightly proclaim that gun related deaths and mass shootings are shockingly infrequent or seldom occurances in this country.  Just as American football and baseball is as normal as apple pie, shooting deaths are daily events here and mass shootings are not too far behind on the frequency scale.  Can something be done for bend the curve of these violent events?  Absolutely, yes!  As with anything in our society it requires voting citizens to demand our politicians at the local, state, and national level take action.

Unfortunately, there is a heavy gun fetish in American society and strongly financed and managed efforts to thwart any effective gun safety and ownership measures in our society.  But that's where you, others, and I come into play.  Actions require our involvement, activism, and making it a point to exercise our right to vote at the ballot box for individuals and proposed legislation to bend this curve of carnage.  It took decades to end slavery, decades to recognize same sex marriage, decades to end government sanctioned segregation, and decades to finally guarantee the right to vote for all American citizens.  To say that it's impossible to deal with the horrors of gun-related deaths and mass shootings in America would admit that Americans have accepted these events as a norm before, a norm now, and a norm forever.  May it never be so.

For Americans, especially elderly citizens, Social Security and Medicare benefits are important in their lives.  These two programs help provide limited monthly financial benefits, and various levels of medical coverage for senior citizens, widows, and the disabled persons.  Unfortunately, there is a lot of talk about reworking these programs, and in some circles, especially Republican discussions, even having to revalidate Social Security every five years.  What's really frightening is sunsetting benefits when a recipient reaches a certain age, as if a 90 year old person will suddenly become physically and financial self-sufficient at that age.

Thanks for listening in on this short episode as I unpack some of these concerns.

The goal of my podcast is to discuss interesting topics either in solo episodes or with guests and guest-hosts. Sharing thoughts on different issues, especially those that are humorous, thoughtful, and thought-provoking, meaningful, insightful, and even heartwarming at times.

*LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stewart-devine

**Comments and/or opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own**

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You can listen to and subscribe to, "It's Not All Bad," that's available from the following platforms and others wherever you listen to your podcasts:

*Anchor - https://anchor.fm/stewart-devine

*Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c30a8c47-7e48-4bed-8ffb-402079d82a4d/it's-not-all-bad

*Google Podcasts - https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy82MDYwNGQ2MC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

*Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-not-all-bad/id1574392751?uo=4

*Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0X6Gn9zC85iEyfKbNmpINM

*Pocket Casts - https://pca.st/beu5r0lv

*RadioPublic - https://radiopublic.com/its-not-all-bad-WDjRy7

Have you noticed there always seems to be a label for whatever condition we have, emotions we feel, kinds of thoughts we have, and even why some people laugh a lot while others are mostly sullen.  But this two-word description called "Imposter Syndrome" caught my attention this week.  This feeling that people have, and apparently many definitions specifically specifies this affliction to successful and accomplished individuals.  I suspect, it affects many average common folks as well.  During this short episode, I discuss the "Imposter Syndrome" concept not in the way of trying to explain whether this is just a phrase that will come and go within a few decades.  I just wanted to help open our minds to discussing this topic.  Indeed, maybe you or someone you know may have an attack of "Imposter Syndrome."  Sometimes it's good to chat about it.

The goal of my podcast is to discuss interesting topics either in solo episodes or with guests and guest-hosts. Sharing thoughts on different issues, especially those that are humorous, thoughtful, and thought-provoking, meaningful, insightful, and even heartwarming at times.

*LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stewart-devine

**Comments and/or opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own**

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You can listen to and subscribe to, "It's Not All Bad," that's available from the following platforms and others wherever you listen to your podcasts:

*Anchor - https://anchor.fm/stewart-devine

*Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c30a8c47-7e48-4bed-8ffb-402079d82a4d/it's-not-all-bad

*Google Podcasts - https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy82MDYwNGQ2MC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

*Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-not-all-bad/id1574392751?uo=4

*Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0X6Gn9zC85iEyfKbNmpINM

*Pocket Casts - https://pca.st/beu5r0lv

*RadioPublic - https://radiopublic.com/its-not-all-bad-WDjRy7

Emotional intelligence or EI has been around for quite some time, since 1990.  Often people in leadership positions equate EI to "soft" skills, as if quality and thoughtfully positive emotions are something insignificant and shouldn't be equal to productivity.  Fortunately, the are others who believe EI is a must in terms of understanding one's own and the emotions of others.  Why would a supervisor, leader, subordinate, or colleague wish to work in a caustic work atmosphere where misunderstandings, mood swings, backbiting, and abusive emotionally behavior is the norm rather than the exception.  There are some leaders who appear to have an intuitive high EI, while others struggle with understanding leadership traits, intelligence, and their emotions.  Fortunately, EI can be learned.

Hopefully, you're a leader or supervisor, or a person who aspires to gain those positions who values understanding who you are, your aspirations, your positive and negative emotional thresholds, and how you can contribute to building a positive work environment.  I discuss this in this episode.

The goal of my podcast is to discuss interesting topics either in solo episodes or with guests and guest-hosts. Sharing thoughts on different issues, especially those that are humorous, thoughtful, and thought-provoking, meaningful, insightful, and even heartwarming at times.

*LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stewart-devine

**Comments and/or opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own**

You can listen to and subscribe to, "It's Not All Bad," that's available from the following platforms and others wherever you listen to your podcasts:

*Anchor - https://anchor.fm/stewart-devine

*Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c30a8c47-7e48-4bed-8ffb-402079d82a4d/it's-not-all-bad

*Google Podcasts - https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy82MDYwNGQ2MC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

*Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-not-all-bad/id1574392751?uo=4

*Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0X6Gn9zC85iEyfKbNmpINM

*Pocket Casts - https://pca.st/beu5r0lv

*RadioPublic - https://radiopublic.com/its-not-all-bad-WDjRy7

There's nothing inherently wrong with being a political liberal or political conservative.  In liberal democracies, this is normal and expected.  Indeed, these two deltas and the various points on this spectrum is what keeps society progressing although it does appear to regress at time which is unfortunate.  Still, society perseveres and does not give up on democratic ideals and support for all its people.  Thank you for listening to this short episode as I discuss misunderstandings and commonalities among this political spectrum.  Yes.  Huge differences remain and certainly have diminished meaningful political discourse, this can be salvaged.  While all things are not possible, repairing this destructive rift is doable and it's a must.

Our political discourse is still somewhat messy, frustrating, and needs repair, for sure.  Part of the repair process includes you - the voter - not just politicians.  It requires individual voter self-reflection on what's important for our country. Indeed, I do hope it remains the aspirational nature of our liberal democracy and the aspirational and living nature of our constitution.  If you must bet, always bet on the big "D."  Democracy.

The goal of my podcast is to discuss interesting topics either in solo episodes or with guests and guest-hosts. Sharing thoughts on different issues, especially those that are humorous, thoughtful, and thought-provoking, meaningful, insightful, and even heartwarming at times.

*LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stewart-devine

**Comments and/or opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own**

You can listen to and subscribe to, "It's Not All Bad," that's available from the following platforms and others wherever you listen to your podcasts:

*Anchor - https://anchor.fm/stewart-devine

*Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c30a8c47-7e48-4bed-8ffb-402079d82a4d/it's-not-all-bad

*Google Podcasts - https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy82MDYwNGQ2MC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

*Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-not-all-bad/id1574392751?uo=4

*Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0X6Gn9zC85iEyfKbNmpINM

*Pocket Casts - https://pca.st/beu5r0lv

*RadioPublic - https://radiopublic.com/its-not-all-bad-WDjRy7

There's absolutely nothing good about COVID-19.  It's killed so many people and robbed millions of others of good health.  In the wake of this health menace, commercial companies and governments developed and even embraced ways for certain employee positions to be productive even when away from the normal place of work.  This is called telework and remote work.  What was once almost considered a taboo topic in many circles is now embraced by many as a commonplace practice.  I discuss this worker paradigm shift in this episode.

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The goal of my podcast is to discuss interesting topics either in solo episodes or with guests and guest-hosts. Sharing thoughts on different issues, especially those that are humorous, thoughtful, and thought-provoking, meaningful, insightful, and even heartwarming at times.

*LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stewart-devine

**Comments and/or opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own**

You can listen to and subscribe to, "It's Not All Bad," that's available from the following platforms and others wherever you listen to your podcasts:

*Anchor - https://anchor.fm/stewart-devine

*Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c30a8c47-7e48-4bed-8ffb-402079d82a4d/it's-not-all-bad

*Google Podcasts - https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy82MDYwNGQ2MC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

*Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-not-all-bad/id1574392751?uo=4

*Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0X6Gn9zC85iEyfKbNmpINM

*Pocket Casts - https://pca.st/beu5r0lv

*RadioPublic - https://radiopublic.com/its-not-all-bad-WDjRy7

What does heat have to do with democracy?  Maybe a lot and maybe nothing.  No.  This isn't a play on words in any way.  Just as atmospheric temperatures are rising across the globe, some would say the potentially dangerous implications of heated political rhetoric is reaching the boiling point in some liberal democracies in the world.  Well, I hope to introduce you to the Chef who's named democracy.  I prefer to keep to the person's title, Chef.  The Chef has some interesting thoughts and maybe you do too.  Give a listen.

The goal of my podcast is to discuss interesting topics either in solo episodes or with guests and guest-hosts. Sharing thoughts on different issues, especially those that are humorous, thoughtful, and thought-provoking, meaningful, insightful, and even heartwarming at times.

*LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stewart-devine

**Comments and/or opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own**

Special thanks for Devine & Company (https://www.devineandcompany.com/) for their guidance on subject matter content and technical issues.

You can listen to and subscribe to, "It's Not All Bad," that's available from the following platforms and others wherever you listen to your podcasts:

*Anchor - https://anchor.fm/stewart-devine

*Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c30a8c47-7e48-4bed-8ffb-402079d82a4d/it's-not-all-bad

*Google Podcasts - https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy82MDYwNGQ2MC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

*Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-not-all-bad/id1574392751?uo=4

*Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0X6Gn9zC85iEyfKbNmpINM

*Pocket Casts - https://pca.st/beu5r0lv

*RadioPublic - https://radiopublic.com/its-not-all-bad-WDjRy7

This podcast is created and produced by Stewart Devine. He started this show to express and encourage humor, chat about reality of everyday life, including politics, and have everyday people as guests. Listeners will also gain insight into themselves, and latest issues in the US and internationally.

He also strays off the well-worn path of telling people what’s the right direction and welcomes conversations with guests about their paths and what positive lessons can be learned. Indeed, human relations and insight, laughter, happiness and its opposite, relationships, work-life balance, politics, the joy and pain of family and friends, the latest happenings in the world will certainly be explored. After all, there is plenty to say and explore.

So, there will be no presentations of step-by-step ready-made solutions to what the topic of the day. But he may help find a way by discussing his experiences and having guests on the show to share their various paths of what has, is, or is expected to happen.

The conversations will be approachable and conversational littered with humor to etch into what’s real in our lives. Stewart’s experience as an international traveler, a U.S. diplomat, parent, spouse, purveyor of humor, and acknowledgment of successes and some failures will keep the topics of discussion real.  Who knows, maybe the light will go off in your mind and recognize some of this reality in you, and that’s simply fine.

Stewart's podcast is available from the following platforms:

*Anchor - https://anchor.fm/stewart-devine

*Google Podcasts - https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy82MDYwNGQ2MC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

*Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-not-all-bad/id1574392751?uo=4

*Breaker - https://www.breaker.audio/its-not-all-bad

*Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0X6Gn9zC85iEyfKbNmpINM

*Pocket Casts - https://pca.st/beu5r0lv

*RadioPublic - https://radiopublic.com/its-not-all-bad-WDjRy7