It's Not All Bad

If you're similar to me and many others, we marvel at the success of those who have escaped difficult circumstances.  In fact, we celebrate them and their success.  You know me, I'm always considering other issues that may make this concept somewhat more complicated when scratching the service.

Much of our wonderment about the success of others is associated with those who have become "self-made" millionaires and billionaires.  Some of whom may have come from humble beginnings.  Indeed, I too am amazed at the often meteoric rise of these fellow human beings.  But what about those who have not ascended to the high stratosphere of stardom, or monetary, or material wealth?  Often these people are some of the most humble, thoughtful, kindhearted, and are often successful in their endeavors.

In this episode, my guest is Ardian Maloku and is of those thoughtful people.  He is an American who is was a former refugee who, at 13 years young, fled with his parents from the then terrible violence in Kosovo.  He and his family endured dangers, hardships, the images of death, and living in a refugee camp until they petitioned for and was granted entry into the United States.  Now, in his 30s, Ardian remains thoughtful, kindhearted, and humbled as he embarks on a new path into the U.S. Department of State's U.S. Foreign Service.

In my conversation with Ardian, you will hear his humor, the realities of hardship, the optimism of hope, and success.

*******Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you found this episode (and my podcast in general) interesting, please share it with friends, family, and associates.

The goal of my podcast is to have interesting guests share their thoughts on different issues, have guest co-hosts to discuss various topics (especially those that offer humor), and even share short episodes in which I discuss thoughtful and even heartwarming issues.

*Twitter: @stewartdevine5

**Comments and/or opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own, and not affiliated with any government entity or agency**

Special thanks for Devine & Company (https://www.devineandcompany.com/) 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:

*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

For many people, the idea of buying a house appears daunting and complicated.  Guess what?  It is daunting in many respects and complicated with all of the rules and regulations associated with real estate.  Will this be a live-in home for the buyer, will it be a second or vacation home, or will it be a rental property.  If this is an investment property, will the owner manage the property directly or will the owner hire a property management company.

Yes.  To a person who does not own a home, the myriad of questions is enough to cause many people to back off from considering home ownership.

Good news!  Today's guest, Brian Kressin, is a successful small real estate investor who owns multiple dwellings and manages them long distance.  In fact, Brian's international related work has placed him overseas for the past 15 years.  Indeed, he will explain some of the tips about investing in real estate and managing properties from afar.  He's also the author of the book, "Investment Real Estate For The Absentee Landlord: How To Invest In And Manage Real Estate From Overseas."

So, grab a cup or glass of your favorite beverage and listen in.  Even if you're a experienced homeowner, there may be some tips that will cause the light to shine in your mind for next steps.

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Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you found this episode (and my podcast in general) interesting, please share it with friends, family, and associates.

The goal of my podcast is to have interesting guests share their thoughts on different issues, have guest co-hosts to discuss various topics (especially those that offer humor), and even share short episodes in which I discuss thoughtful and even heartwarming issues.

**Comments and opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and not affiliated with any government agency or entity**

Thanks to  Devine and Company (https://www.devineandcompany.com/) for their guidance on episode format and technical details.   

*Twitter: @stewartdevine5

My 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

Many listeners probably know of young people who come from humble economic backgrounds, and other who may have had privileged social environments since birth.  There's always one common factor in this social construct, young people wish to succeed.  It's true that not all things are possible, but so much can be probable.

A while back, I was fortunate to meet Michael White.  Michael works at a well known coffee-bakery shop for the last two+ years starting in high school.  Michael's story is positive and would cause any listener to know that he believes a positive future is possible because he has already started along that positive path now.  He has been accepted to Florida International University (FIU) and will start as a freshman undergraduate in the fall of 2021.

I enjoyed chatting with Michael for this short but meaningful episode, and I hope you will find pleasure listening in.

Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you found this episode (and my podcast in general) interesting, please share it with friends, family, and associates.

The goal of my podcast is to have interesting guests share their thoughts on different issues, have guest co-hosts to discuss various topics (especially those that offer humor), and even share short episodes in which I discuss thoughtful and even heartwarming issues.

Special thanks to  Devine and Company (https://www.devineandcompany.com/) for their guidance on episode format and technical details.

*Twitter: @stewartdevine5

My 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

The Middle East is a region of the world with untold centuries of history.  As most geographical regions, Middle East history has dealt with migration, empires, enlightenment, philosophers, commerce, and violent conflicts.  In recent history, much of the focus has been on the aspects of conflict and oil.

However, there is so much more to that fascinating part of the world.  The part part of family importance, aspirations for a better life, positive economic trends, and mutually beneficial economic trade often escapes world news in favor of violent conflicts.

To help us unwind some of this mystery, my special guest is Ambassador Douglas A. Silliman.  Ambassador Silliman is a recently retired senior US Diplomat with over 35 years of expertise in the Arab culture and international affairs.  He was Ambassador to Iraq and Kuwait, and is now President of The Arab Gulf States Institute In Washington (https://agsiw.org/).  

Ambassador Silliman also serves on the board of advisors of the Bilateral US-Arab Chamber of Commerce, which helps American businesses expand their international business and trade ties, especially in the Middle East and Gulf region. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the American Academy of Diplomacy.

*Opinions expressed on this Podcast are those of the host and Guests, and not affiliated with any governmental organization.

*******Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you found this episode (and my podcast in general) interesting, please share it with friends, family, and associates.

The goal of my podcast is to have interesting guests share their thoughts on different issues, have guest co-hosts to discuss various topics (especially those that offer humor), and even share short episodes in which I discuss thoughtful and even heartwarming issues.

Special thanks to  Devine and Company (https://www.devineandcompany.com/) for their guidance on episode format and technical details.

*Twitter: @stewartdevine5

You can listen to and subscribe to, "It's Not All Bad," that's 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

As with many countries, the US is host to many visitors from nations across the globe.  Of course, each country has common elements that any culture would have.  Alternatively, some things are relatively unique to some countries and cultures.  In today's episode, "Things Some Foreign Visitors to the US Find Interesting," I will be joined by my colleague and guest co-host - Ken Chavez.

Ken and I, individually, have traveled the world, including living, and working in quite a few countries, from all of which we learned quite a bit.  In today's episode, Ken and I will discuss some things that many foreign visitors to the US find, well, interesting and even odd!  So, please enjoy the lighthearted and, we hope, somewhat enlightening conversation about this topic.

*******Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you found this episode (and my podcast in general) interesting, please share it with friends, family, and associates.

The goal of my podcast is to have interesting guests share their thoughts on different issues, have guest co-hosts to discuss various topics (especially those that offer humor), and even share short episodes in which I discuss thoughtful and even heartwarming issues.

Special thanks to  Devine and Company (https://www.devineandcompany.com/) for their guidance on episode format and technical details.

*Twitter: @stewartdevine5

You can listen to and subscribe to, "It's Not All Bad," that's 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

This is a short episode in which we/you are the focus, but the mirror frequently interferes with who we are instead pushing us to grab onto what we see.  Hopefully, this episode will cause you to think, "Hmm."  If you KNOW your inner self is thoughtful and compassionate, and you practice those important human traits, then people (family, coworkers, friends, supervisors, and supervised) will often accept you for who you are, not the person you feel you have to be.  Indeed, we humans are natural performers, even though not professional actors, in order adjust to the reality of our existence.  Still, we can still harbor and embrace thoughtfulness and compassion in our daily lives.  This is true strength; not weakness.

*******Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you found this episode (and my podcast in general) interesting, please share it with friends, family, and associates.

The goal of my podcast is to have interesting guests share their thoughts on different issues, have guest co-hosts to discuss various topics (especially those that offer humor), and even share short episodes in which I discuss thoughtful and even heartwarming issues.

Special thanks to  Devine and Company (https://www.devineandcompany.com/) for their guidance on episode format and technical details.

*Twitter: @stewartdevine5

You can listen to and subscribe to, "It's Not All Bad," that's 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

With all of the tragic events that have and are taking place in today's world, I thought it would be a good idea to chat with someone who has had a complicated background, yet still maintained healthy sense of optimism.  Yes.  It's a good and light-hearted story that we can all use as encouragement, especially one that comes from young person.

Zhanna Imel is my guest for this episode.  She was originally orphaned in Kazakhstan but was eventually adopted and brought to the United States.   She's lived a good portion of her young years, especially elementary school in a 5th wheel trailer and moved around the country quite a bit.  She didn't start attending public school until she entered high school after pleading with her Mother to permit her to do so.

To help finance her way through a small college in the mountains of southwest Colorado, she worked cleaning vacation properties in the tourist town there.  During her senior year, she applied and competed for a coveted Pickering Fellowship and was selected.  The Pickering Fellowship is a U.S. Department of State program which finances graduate school for its Fellows, and also provides two summer internships (one in Washington DC and the other at a U.S. Embassy overseas).  Upon completion of graduate school, the Pickering Fellows, including Zhanna, will be onboarded as new U.S. Department of State Foreign Service Officers (U.S. Diplomats).  In Zhanna's case, she will start as a Foreign Service Officer in September, 2021.

I do hope you will listen to this episode and Zhanna's story.  Truly, she is the sound and presence of meaningful and engaging optimism.

*******Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you found this episode (and my podcast in general) interesting, please share it with friends, family, and associates.

The goal of my podcast is to have interesting guests share their thoughts on different issues, have guest co-hosts to discuss various topics (especially those that offer humor), and even share short episodes in which I discuss thoughtful and even heartwarming issues.

Special thanks to  Devine and Company (https://www.devineandcompany.com/) for their guidance on episode format and technical details.

*Twitter: @stewartdevine5

You can listen to and subscribe to, "It's Not All Bad," that's 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

This episode is about human interactions, but more importantly it's the magic of a genuine sincere smile.  Compassion, thoughtfulness, concern for others, and smiling are not indications of weakness.  Indeed, it's inner strength that acknowledges it's truly fine to have the smile that acknowledges you're fine for even just that second, moment, or minute in time.  

If you found this episode interesting or maybe even somewhat enlightening, please share it with your friends, family, and associates.

*******Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you found this episode (and my podcast in general) interesting, please share it with friends, family, and associates.

The goal of my podcast is to have interesting guests share their thoughts on different issues, have guest co-hosts to discuss various topics (especially those that offer humor), and even share short episodes in which I discuss thoughtful and even heartwarming issues.

Special thanks to  Devine and Company (https://www.devineandcompany.com/) for their guidance on episode format and technical details.

*Twitter: @stewartdevine5

You can listen to and subscribe to, "It's Not All Bad," that's 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

On this episode of "It's Not All Bad", we'll discuss the current situation in which political polarization is in a space unlike that in recent history.  Even health issues, such as COVID-19, have become excuses to demonize the other.  Facts are put aside in favor of fiction and truth isn't an absolute concept.  

Today, Michael J. Ma joins me as my guest.  He is a former Navy officer, former US Diplomat, and previously served in the White House and the National Security Counsel as an Executive Assistant.  His perspective on political discourse may not be unique, but is absolutely interesting.

--Comments and opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own, and are not affiliated with any government agency--

*******Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you found this episode (and my podcast in general) interesting, please share it with friends, family, and associates.

The goal of my podcast is to have interesting guests share their thoughts on different issues, have guest co-hosts to discuss various topics (especially those that offer humor), and even share short episodes in which I discuss thoughtful and even heartwarming issues.

Special thanks to  Devine and Company (https://www.devineandcompany.com/) for their guidance on episode format and technical details.

*Twitter: @stewartdevine5

You can listen to and subscribe to, "It's Not All Bad," that's 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