Men Speaking Out

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In this podcast, I am joined with my dear friend Tanisha Harris as we discuss the subject "Iceberg Success".

Well simply put...the “Iceberg Theory of Success” helps us to realize that every famous or extraordinary successful person had to invest a lot of effort and work until this person achieved his/her goals.

We only see the top layer or the final result. But it takes much more than just showing up or using your words in order to be successful. In order to be successful, it takes hard work, sacrifice, good habits, failure, persistence, being goal-oriented, focus, and risk. And even if this formula doesn’t pan out as perfectly planned, it is your job to get up and keep trying.

The original quote that sums it up by Jeffrey Fry is “Success is like an iceberg. Nobody sees the work that comprises it.”  

Another great discussion -  I even learned a few things. Also, you can watch it on YouTube.

Bazz

Men Speaking Out...Talking to reveal, not conceal! menspeakingout.com

We would love to hear your feedback on any episode.

Let’s Talk about Relationships. This has a significant impact on American culture. Relationships drive a billion-dollar retail industry (holidays, birthdays – and the big one Valentine’s Day).

But are relationships a necessity or a Luxury? Well, listen as JD, VirgoBlu, Big E, and myself (Bazz) discuss the differences between each two.

We talk about the necessities in a relationship such as:

• Intimacy
• Romance
• Friendship – The MOST important
• Transparency
• Being Fully Present 

We also discuss luxuries which include:

• Time
• Money
• Resources
• Rest / Peace of Mind

Lastly, we cover "the fine print" of relationships...something we never look for when we get involved with someone.

Check it out! This podcast is also on YouTube. Click here to view!

Men Speaking Out...Talking to reveal, not conceal! menspeakingout.com

We would love to hear your feedback on any episode.

Listen in as Joe Dilla (JD) and myself (Bazz) - speak on the subject of "Marry Before You Carry"

The data doesn't lie...

Over the last few decades, marriage has been a declining institution among all Americans and this decline is even more evident in the Black community. In 2019 only 30% of African Americans were married compared to 48% of all Americans. Half or 50% of African Americans have never been married compared to 34% of all Americans.
https://blackdemographics.com/households/marriage-in-black-america/

Currently, 74% of black women are having babies out of wedlock.
https://singlemotherguide.com/single-mother-statistics/

In 2020, there were about 4.25 million Black families in the United States with a single mother. This is an increase from 1990 levels when there were about 3.4 million Black families with a single mother.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/252847/number-of-children-living-with-a-single-mother-or-single-father/

WE REALLY NEED TO FIGURE THIS OUT!

Bazz

Men Speaking Out...Talking to reveal, not conceal! menspeakingout.com

We would love to hear your feedback on any episode.

Shortly after my mom passed on Oct 30, 2019, I lost my dad almost exactly 8 months later on July 29, 2020.  He is missed and loved by many! My father was an honorable man of principle and he created a legacy for our family by changing our last name from Wallace to Shabazz. He was a husband, father, brother, son, cousin, uncle, and friend. He also was a minister with the Nation of Islam and a proud army veteran. 

I invite you to listen in on this podcast as we capture some of the memorable times growing up with him and some of the life lessons we still carry today. Lastly, we recorded this podcast on this birthday (September 23, 2021). He would have been 85 years old at this time. So in closing We love and miss you dad - please listen from heaven as your sons (Dawud, Nasir, and myself) give you honor with this podcast.

Al Salamu Alaykum Brother John 59X.

Men Speaking Out...Talking to reveal, not conceal! menspeakingout.com

We would love to hear your feedback on any episode.

The Real Truth Behind Your SMV (Sexual Market Place Value).

When you go to an auto dealer to purchase a car – what are some of the features you look for when researching?  Most people look for the Year, make, model, mileage, performance, comfort, features, maintenance frequency, etc. You have the sales price, then you have the bluebook value.

Well...we do the same thing when it comes to people. We all have an SMV, but most of us don't understand what that really is. So I employ you to listen in on this podcast with Mika and Bazz and learn something. Maybe your value isn't what you think it is.

SMV Questions for the listeners:

• How do women view attraction to a man? Youth/Status/Resources/Stability 
• How do men view attraction on a woman? Looks/Youth/Womb

Now that's real! Lastly, we reference an SMV chart on this podcast which is located here.

Men Speaking Out...Talking to reveal, not conceal! menspeakingout.com

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In this world we live in everyone has a value. Some people place value on their career, items, experiences but not the same value on family. In this podcast, I ask my guests the million-dollar question "Is Your Price Tag Too High?" 

The responses are very interesting.

So listen in as my guests (Eric, Mika, Boz, Kim, and LaTonia) share their views on relationships, a value of a person, and do modern women know how the value of a traditional man?

Bazz

Men Speaking Out...Talking to reveal, not conceal! menspeakingout.com

We would love to hear your feedback on any episode.

What is it? – Critical Race Theory is an academic concept that’s more than 40 years old.  The core idea is that race is a social construct and that racism is not just a product of individual bias or prejudice, but is also systemic and embedded in our legal, political, economic, and sociological society that states patterns of racism are ingrained in all of these modern institutions.

In other words, It is a framework

Listen as we (Abdul, Kyla, James, BJ, Tory, and Bazz) answer the following questions about CRT:

• Why is it necessary to understand what CRT really is?
• Is it real?
• Should it be taught in schools (K-12)?
• How has this impacted the black community?

Great conversation! This was also streamed live on YouTube, you can watch it here!

Stay tuned for Part II.

Men Speaking Out...Talking to reveal, not conceal! menspeakingout.com

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First Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

In a study done by – psychcentral.com in 2019 on 36 children on the effects of parental rejection (lack of love) on their child. All 36 studies reported the same conclusion. Children who felt rejected/unloved by their parents were more anxious, insecure, hostile, and aggressive towards others in comparison to those who weren’t.

Listen in as we (Bazz, Boz, and Streeter) discuss the following below:

• Defining love?
• What happens when a child is unloved?
• Is love the same as getting attention?
• What are the consequences of lack of affection?
• Why is this so important for Childhood development?

Lastly – we discuss solutions on getting away from the enslaved feeling of inadequacy then you step into a realm of ways to learn to feel, give and receive real authentic love.

This episode was also streamed live on YouTube.

Men Speaking Out...Talking to reveal, not conceal! menspeakingout.com

We would love to hear your feedback on any episode.

Legally just because you marry someone does not mean you have any legal rights to the child immediately upon that marriage…

• You can provide for them.
• Feed them.
• Clothe them.
• Love them as your own.
• Provide Health and Dental Coverage, even life insurance.

But even with all that said - you do not have the same rights as the biological parent. You’re a second-class parent, but providing first-class benefits. Is that fair? 

Parents deal with:

• Behavioral problems
• Conflicts
• Attitudes
• Challenges with priorities
• Dealing with the triggers of emotions when it came to their custodial parent.
• And Much More

Listen with Bazz, Breeze, and Isiah as we speak on this topic from a child and parent point of view, and check out this same podcast streamed on youtube - https://youtu.be/_bt_1XKqfRY.

Men Speaking Out...Talking to reveal, not conceal! menspeakingout.com

We would love to hear your feedback on any episode.

Children are a blessing. They bring joy, love, value, and even education to our lives. We want to give them the best, we want them to not make the same mistakes we did growing up. So, we try to help them navigate life – helping them learn along the way. In some cases, they make us much better parents and people in general.

Now on the other hand some children – not most but some can be disrespectful, ungrateful, entitled, and even narcissistic. 

They exemplify behaviors such as:

• Talking back / attitude
• Un-appreciative of what they have
• Making demands (entitlement)
• Lack of ownership and knowing their role (i.e. chores, school)
• Not being responsible for their actions
• Don’t communicate (only call when they need something) / do not say “Thank you”.

Join us as we (Eric, Breeze, Joe, Steve, and Bazz) talk about how we handle these family challenges and give recommendations on how to handle them.

Men Speaking Out...Talking to reveal, not conceal! menspeakingout.com