Seemingly Ordinary

Adam Clement is a licensed marriage therapist who has worked with all kinds of hard cases, from addiction to trauma to spouses who say no to everything, young men who won't leave their rooms, and people suffering from identity crises (like teens who don't know what to do, or your classic 40 year old who feels lost). In this episode, I ask him about hard cases.

Every day, I notice more and more in many conversations: what isn't being said. It's often the most important part.

Michelle Downard - Birth Parent Peer Support / Birth Mother:

"My name is Michelle Downard, and I am a birth mother who has been working for American Adoptions since 2003. My primary focus is peer support for all the birth mothers that we work with who want to know that they are not alone and that someone else understands how they feel. I placed my son for adoption in February of 1998. He is the love of my life, and I know that it is because of adoption and his wonderful adoptive family that he has had all of the opportunities and experiences that he has been blessed with. I also handle the pictures and letters here at the agency and love being able to talk with both adoptive couples and birth mothers about their experience and contribute in making it a positive experience for everyone."

E-MAIL: [email protected]

Interviewing Michelle was a ton of fun, and very heartwarming. Everyday, she helps people in deep need. Very inspiring.  

And if so, how? Some people believe we have to change the system.
Note: I am not saying this is his plan. But between President Trump's proposal that income taxes go away for everyone making under $150,000, and the tariffs--who knows just how creative the chief executive will get?

I'm not a great negotiator. But these five keys work. If you've ever wanted to get what you want, and stay 100% honest, this is probably the way to go.

What's fake? Maybe the food, our fuel, a bunch of people in government, the media, the money, the pharma, what some call "bu!!shlit jobs," some of the education, and much more. 

People complain about conspiracy theories, but it would help if we got to the bottom of things, instead of just moving on. After all, most Americans don't believe what they've heard about JFK; RFK; MLK, Jr.; 9/11; and so much more. 

But every time there's a crisis, we end up with interested parties telling us what they want us to believe. But--how about just the facts? 

Is there a solution? I truly believe that honesty and standards solve almost all problems. That's all I want: real investigations. Then I think we'd have real solutions. 

(I recorded this episode on March 8, 2025.)

How do you help people who isolate themselves? "Hikikomori" is a worldwide phenomena--where young men (usually ages 18 to 25) isolate themselves. They tend to talk to no one and not have jobs. In Japan, there are 1,200,000 people like this, and there are many in other nations, including the U.S. These people don't have goals and they don't have relationships. Can they be helped?

It takes a lot of work, but popular Catholic Bishop Fulton Sheen, and professional terrorist, and kidnapper-negotiator, Chris Voss, appear to have found a way. 

If someone you love is in this situation, and you'd like to help, but you don't know how, this might be an answer.

For more information, look into:
* The William George Agency for Children's Services;

* EverGreen Meadow Academy;

* Boys Republic;

* The Menniger Clinic;

* Yellowbrick;

* and Exposure =Therapy.

Note: I'm not endorsing any of the above. I'm just saying that it's worth looking into.

(I recorded this episode on March 8, 2025.)

Debt on a personal level can easily damage your life, remove your opportunities, give you a spirit of fear and always saying no, and hurt your imagination. LIfe was not meant to be this way. In this episode, I give thoughts on: the psychology of debt, how debt keeps us from being our best, and I offer a few solutions.