Just Dumb Enough Podcast

"If you point at the moon with your index finger, someone will cut off your ears."

My guest today is Allison Hong Merrill. Allison was born and raised to adulthood in Taiwan before coming the the US on a student visa. What she experienced was a massive culture shock. The things we do and why we do them are commonplace to us, but can be taboo just across the ocean.

Allison is also a big fan of this show and has been since before we met officially. I think it's incredible that I've gotten to a place where my audience enjoys the show so much they want to get involved! So in honor of this momentous occasion, I'd like to invite any listener who really knows a lot about something to send me an email [email protected] or on any of the social pages. It can be about anything at all! You might just be really good at pumping fuel, or really into collecting card games. Anything that you are interested in and would be willing to teach 

Also... 58% better. Just remember that for later. 58%

If you're anything like me, doing uncertain things scares you. It's not bad to be scared, but we shouldn't let it hold us back. The greatest things we will ever accomplish in our lives are going to be somewhat terrifying. There's an unknown you can't ever remove when you consider the future, but what you can make sure of is that you are better tomorrow than you are today.

My guest today is David Richards. David is an international best selling author, ex-marine, current yoga instructor, and life strategist. If those things seem disconnected, it's because they are all very different, but what they provide is challenge and purpose. That's what we talk about today, overcoming the biggest obstacle: Yourself.

Let's take steps towards realizing our dreams!

It's almost unbelievable that I've been in the top 3 education podcasts on Podbean for nearly two months now. That's all thanks to the listeners who take a brief moment to rate the show five stars on iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. It helps the show grow in ways you can't imagine. Also if you have not already, please tell someone you know to listen to this show. Word of mouth from listeners gets more people to listen than any other form of promotion I can ever do.

August Official Top Countries (so far):

We've gone down in the trenches with mental health before, but never like this. Today we are going the full distance to the worst possible outcome... Suicide.

My guest today is Frank King. Frank has been a comedian for almost four decades and wrote for The (very famous) Tonight Show for Twenty years. He's spoken at Seven TED events, and has several books available all on the topic of mental health and suicide.

Let's reach out to those we care about... before it's too late.

If you want to help the show grow: rate it five stars on iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Also if you have not already, please tell someone you know to listen to this show.

I'm always looking for new topics, guest ideas, and questions from the audience. To reach out to me email [email protected] or send a message on any of the show pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or wherever else. You can also find all the new posts going on those social pages.

I'll see you all Monday for the next, Dream chasing episode.

It's stories like today's that make me think we let ourselves down more than we are victims of life. And if we could just get it together, we could spend so much of our wasted time on helping other people

My guest today is Samantha Pillay. Samantha is a urological surgeon, public speaker, business owner, and seven time children's book author.

If you want to help the show grow. Rate it five stars on iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Also if you have not already, please tell someone you know to listen to this show. Word of mouth is the best advertising ever!

August Official Top Countries aren't in yet because I'm recording this ahead of time since I'm on a trip right now!

I'll see you all Thursday for the next, dream chasing episode.

So often you're told growing up that college is the only way to secure your future. But what if the job you want doesn't require a degree? Do you still go to a nice university and take out loans just to say you did it? Sure the social aspect is an experience unlike what you'd find in your hometown, but it's not the only way to develop skills or make money.

My guest today is Charles Chadwick. Charles earned two college degrees before realizing he was better of working a trade job and forgoing all the formal education he thought he would need. He has dedicated his life to helping students reduce college debt, if not eliminate it by finding an alternate route to happiness, fulfillment, job security, and income.

To help the show grow rate it five stars on iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Also if you have not already, please tell someone you know to listen to this show. Word of mouth gets more people to listen than any other form of promotion.

I'll see you all Monday for the next, uplifting episode.

We've covered some odd jobs on here before, but this takes the cake I think. Audience survey: Put your hands up if you would willingly crawl into a ditch on the side of the road and wrestle a snake three times your size?

My guest today is Amy Siewe. Amy actually quit being a real estate agent several years back to pursue being a python huntress in Florida. She is one of only a hundred in the United States to have that job title, and I can't imagine there are many anywhere else on the planet.

We just keep getting new audience members which is great, but remember to rate the show five stars on iTunes, Spotify, or Audible if you want to help the show grow. Also if you have not already, please tell someone you know to listen to this show. Word of mouth gets more people to listen than any other form of promotion.

July Official Top Countries:

I'm sure many of us have heard of dogs being brought into colleges to help reduce anxiety during finals, but never saw them ourselves. Well today you're going to hear all about these special Therapy Animals.

My guest today is Larry Grogan. Larry Grogan is actually less well known than his lovable therapy dog Scrappy, and that's exactly how he prefers it. This is honestly a really interesting topic that I could see growing from the rare occurrence it is now, into something truly huge.

Final reminder that I'll be in San Jose, California August 4th to 8th if any listeners want to hang out while I'm down there.

If you want to help the show grow, rate it five stars on iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. If you have not already, please tell someone you know to listen to this show. 

I think we have a pretty gentle outlook on alcohol, at least here in the United States. Its readily available from any corner convenience store and we accept that kids will be kids when they start drinking or throwing parties under age. However, I think most of us probably know someone who has several drinks a night, every night of their life. Not only does that make them a clinical alcoholic, but it also threatens to shorten their natural life by 30 years!

My guest today is Andrew Culkin. One day he met the love of his life, Amanda, they got married and had a son, all while she was drinking full a bottle of wine per day. Things only went downhill from there. Amanda moved up from one bottle to over two a day, and multiple DUIs and accidents, lost close friends, and went to not one or two... but seven rehabs before ultimately passing away. Andrew now carries her story forward as a cautionary tale and tries to help others find help and understand the risks they are taking on.

If you want to help the show grow, rate it five stars on iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. If you have not already, please tell someone you know to listen to this show.

July Top Countries (for now):

Whips and chains, leather and lube. That's the sort of image most people get when they hear the phrase BDSM, and it's not wrong. But the BDSM lifestyle is just that, a lifestyle. It's not something you should be ashamed of or unwilling to listen to. 

This one is not for children, shield their tiny ears!

My guests today are Slave Karma and Master Joshua. Karma Said was once a conservative reporter infiltrating Master Joshua's collective to write a scathing article, instead what she found was freedom and a new sense of identity. They are both here to discuss the pleasures and pitfalls that can come with choosing a non-traditional route of exploration with your partner and others.

If you want to help the show grow, rate it five stars on iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. If you have not already, please tell someone you know to listen to this show. It gets people to listen more listeners than anything else.

Mental health. We use those words a lot, but we never allow ourselves to talk about in public. As if discussing it will make us seem weaker, or informing people around us will only hold us back. That's flat out not true though. Some people might always be insecure jerks looking to bring you down, but there are also many genuinely good hearted people who need you to speak up.

This is going to be a kind of heavy episode with lots of potentially unpleasant topics. I do think it's important for as many people to listen as they can though.

My guest today is Sonja Wasden. Sonja struggled with depression, bipolar, obsessive compulsive, and anxiety disorders for 30 years before 

If you want to help the show grow, rate it five stars on iTunes, Spotify, or Audible.

I'm still a featured show on the Podbean podcast streaming service which has lasted longer than I ever imagined! It's where most of my listeners come from, so check it out if you are getting tired of certain other podcast apps crashing or injecting ads into your shows.

July Top countries (so far):

If you didn't know, I've switched things up a bit and am doing episodes twice a week for now. I hope you enjoy the extra episodes each week.