Luke Nielsen Media

"Ernest from Earth" is a middle grade to young adult novel. It's a story about empathy. It's a story about social issues and growing up.

Ernest is a twelve-year-old boy growing up on Earth in the Twenty-Second Century, an Earth that exists free of poverty, bigotry, famine, or war. The citizens of Earth live in peace, traveling the cosmos as readily as they once navigated country highways; but Ernest is separated from his family on one such trip and finds himself on a planet eerily similar to Earth’s past, with the exception of its red- and blue-skinned inhabitants. Ernest befriends a red boy named Dat, and he is forced to live in a world of racial tension and division the likes of which he has never known. Ernest operates as both an observer and a participant in the struggles around him, all while facing the challenges of growing up. Ernest and his friend Dat face bullies and a sense of isolation. They learn of tragedy and friendship, and they are thrown into a powerful legal battle that continues to shape their understanding of existence and their places in it. Ernest’s experiences leave him torn between his desire to return to his family and his idyllic life and the kinship he has formed with his adopted family, especially as they struggle through a glaringly unjust world. Ultimately, Ernest begins to question what is really right, and if his own world is as perfect as it seems.

This is an audio and video series covering the book and the companion curriculum guide that addresses social-emotional and literacy standards.

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Social Awareness

Perspective-Taking and Empathy

Evaluate and interpret social cues for how others feel and respond constructively.

Recognize and validate the other person's feelings and perspective.

Family Time 128: Read the Room

What things might clue us into what others are thinking or feeling?

How can we validate the feelings of others?

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I kicked off 2023 having a great conversation with some of my favorite people. We talked about New Year's resolutions and areas of personal focus. We discussed morning routines and favorite mantras. We hit topics ranging from cold exposure to Rip Taylor.

My good friends Jason and Carter joined me in-studio. I'm fortunate to have both of those guys in my daily life. They keep me grounded and make me a better man.

Drake and Mike joined us virtually. Drake is a friend who was also a former student of mine. Drake continually explores personal development and keeps me excited about new ideas. Mike is a friend and an amazing guy, who hosts an incredible podcast called Detoxicity. I always feel a little better about the world after talking with Mike.

Join us for some meaningful conversation to kick of the new year.

Love and Respect,

Luke

Follow Mike and Detoxicity:

open.spotify.com/show/4yjiIzWOWIkWa9jZVtqwSy

instagram.com/detoxpodguy/

lukenielsen.com

instagram.com/lukenielsenmedia

facebook.com/medialukenielsen

twitter.com/MediaNielsen

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCcfY...

Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/490xCoj...

Luke Nielsen Media on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, and other streaming services.

Self-Management

Self-Discipline and Self-Motivation

Demonstrate the ability to stay actively engaged and persist in activities.

Demonstrate the ability to delay immediate gratification.

Family Time 127: Discipline and Perseverance

Define discipline and perseverance.

Identify a time you had to delay immediate gratification for a long-term goal.

Discuss how you felt after achieving that goal.

Identify a new long-term goal.

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facebook.com/medialukenielsen

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YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCcfY...

Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/490xCoj...

Luke Nielsen Media on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, and other streaming services.

I am pleased to introduce a new podcast from Luke Nielsen Media.

Art, Heart, and Iron will focus on personal wellness through the exploration of creativity, mental health, and physical health.

I believe in the power of creativity. We all have something that was given to us for the express purpose of being brought to life. We can all put something into the world that didn't exist before. We can all share our unique voices.

I believe mental well-being is a garden that needs constant tending. I believe emotional intelligence is the most powerful form of intelligence. We can strengthen our mental health. We can develop our emotional intelligence.

I believe in physical strength and mental strength. I believe a strong mind and a strong body fuel each other. I believe in continuous growth. We are all capable of growth. We can all learn, and change, and adapt. We can move toward the people we would like to be.

I love being a father, a teacher, and a coach. I teach visual arts and a character development and leadership course. I run a social-emotional learning program. I'm a strength and conditioning coach with a master's degree in sports science. I'm a longtime coach and a lifelong athlete. I'm an author. I've spoken for and collaborated with different organizations, and I've written different instructional curricula. I've been very fortunate to have a lot of amazing opportunities. I don't claim to be an expert on anything at all, but I am very passionate about a few things. I want to keep learning and growing in those areas.

People have asked me what I ultimately want to do, or what I want to do next. The truth is, I love what I do now. I want to keep doing it. When I think of other things I'd like to do, I think of the 1970s TV show "Kung Fu". Cultural appropriation aside, I like the idea of wandering around being of service, offering whatever limited skills I have to help others.

That's the idea behind this podcast. Maybe we can use our contemporary virtual tools to connect with others and offer a sense of community beyond a traditional podcast. As such, we will be doing live recordings for each episode. We'll cover specific topics related to creativity, mental health, and physical health; and listeners will have the chance to be a part of the experience virtually. We'll also post recordings of the live episodes.

Thank you to everyone who interacts with any of these endeavors, and I'm excited for this new journey.

Respect, Love, and Peace:

Luke

lukenielsen.com

instagram.com/lukenielsenmedia

facebook.com/medialukenielsen

twitter.com/MediaNielsen

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCcfY...

Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/490xCoj...

Luke Nielsen Media on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, and other streaming services.

Self-Awareness

Self-Confidence

Express positive beliefs in one’s ability to achieve and contribute.

Critique their abilities that lead to high quality results and outcomes.

Family Time 126: Grit and Growth Mindset

Discuss grit and growth mindset.

Discuss a difficult experience.

What did you learn from that experience?

What personal traits helped you get through?

Discuss the importance of doing difficult things.

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instagram.com/lukenielsenmedia

facebook.com/medialukenielsen

twitter.com/MediaNielsen

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCcfY...

Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/490xCoj...

Luke Nielsen Media on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, and other streaming services.

Responsible Decision-Making

Analyzing Situations and Solving Problems

Consider multiple perspectives and views upon identifying a problem.

Family Time 125: Opposing Views

Select a social issue.

Examine opposing viewpoints associated with that issue.

Why do you think each viewpoint exists?

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instagram.com/lukenielsenmedia

facebook.com/medialukenielsen

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YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCcfY...

Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/490xCoj...

Luke Nielsen Media on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, and other streaming services.

Relationship Skills

Communication

Deliver and receive compliments, feedback, and constructive critique, responding appropriately.

Family Time 124: Gracious Receiver

Think of one of the best compliments you’ve ever received.

How did it make you feel?

What might that say about you?

Identify some of the best advice or criticism you’ve ever received.

Did you act on that advice or criticism?

How can we graciously deliver and receive compliments and criticism?

lukenielsen.com

instagram.com/lukenielsenmedia

facebook.com/medialukenielsen

twitter.com/MediaNielsen

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCcfY...

Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/490xCoj...

Luke Nielsen Media on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, and other streaming services.

Let's think about why we think they ways we think. Know our biases. Own them, and take control of them.

SEL Competency: Social Awareness

--Appreciating Diversity and Respect for Others

Recognize one’s explicit and implicit biases and how they affect our understanding and judgment of others.

Family Time 123: Biases

Discuss biases.

-Actor-Observer

-Confirmation Bias

-Affinity Bias

-Conformity Bias

-Contrast Effect

-Overconfidence

-Anchoring

Identify some of your potential biases, and discuss how those biases impact your understanding of others. Consider empathy.

lukenielsen.com

instagram.com/lukenielsenmedia

facebook.com/medialukenielsen

twitter.com/MediaNielsen

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCcfY...

Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/490xCoj...

Luke Nielsen Media on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, and other streaming services.

Family Time 122: Gratitude

Create a list of things for which you are grateful.

Write someone a thank you note.

lukenielsen.com

instagram.com/lukenielsenmedia

facebook.com/medialukenielsen

twitter.com/MediaNielsen

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCcfY...

Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/490xCoj...

Luke Nielsen Media on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, and other streaming services.