Joy Looks Good on You – Holiday Special

This episode sits inside real December, not the postcard version. I walk through the stories behind my Christmas albums, from Starlight and Silent Nights to the new projects Still Snowing Somewhere, That Christmas Feeling Again, and Lights in the Window.

We talk about:

• Writing “letters to the North Pole” as a kid and what that looks like now as an adult

• Snowy nights when the world finally quiets down

• Fireplaces and small rooms that help your shoulders drop

• The Coeur d’Alene Christmas parade with Jake, “Silent Night,” and the lights flipping on over the lake

• My mom’s kitchen, packed with cookies, fudge, caramels, and enchiladas, and how those smells still feel like home

I share how I am still learning basic guitar while using AI tools like Suno to build choirs and full arrangements around very human, very personal stories. The tech helps me build the sound. The memories, grief, and joy are real.

You will hear the heart behind songs like:

“Joy Looks Good on You,” “Letter to the North Pole,” “Snow Falls Quiet,” “When the Fireplace Glows,” “Home for the Christmas Parade,” “Back Home for Christmas,” and “Smelled Like Home.”

If your holidays feel complicated, this one is for you. If they feel steady and warm, this gives you space to be grateful for that too. I close the episode by sending you out with “Joy Looks Good on You” and a reminder:

You made it to another December.

Joy looks good on you. More than you know.

God Complex: Narcissism in Life and Leadership

This episode kicks off a new five-part series on personality patterns we face at home, at work, and inside every messy human system. We start with one of the most confusing and emotionally draining patterns out there: narcissistic behavior.

I walk through what this pattern looks like, why it forms, how it shows up in leadership, and how it impacts personal relationships. We talk about shame, manipulation, accountability, boundaries, and what it takes to stay grounded when someone else keeps pulling the room toward themselves.

This conversation is not therapy. It’s insight and observation shaped by research, leadership experience, and years of watching good people lose their sense of worth around ego-driven behavior.

You’ll learn how to protect your peace, how to respond without losing your voice, and how to recognize the difference between intensity and connection. You’ll also hear how to rebuild confidence, reclaim your identity, and create healthier environments that stay steady under pressure.

At the end of the episode, I’ll send you out with my song God Complex, written from the same place this conversation comes from — watching how ego, control, and emotional manipulation tear down trust and how powerful it is when people finally stop bending.

Thanks for listening. Thanks for caring about your own growth.

Take care of yourself and protect your peace.

In this episode, Mike slows everything down and talks about what it means to actually show up in the moment you’re living.

It starts with a hand-painted mirror he found in Palm Springs. Three simple lines hit him harder than expected:

Look back.

Look ahead.

Live now.

From there, he walks through the pull of the past, the pressure of the future, and the work it takes to stay grounded in the present. He talks about leadership, connection, the art show conversations, the tension of moving too fast, and the practice of slowing down long enough to bring people with you.

You’ll hear real stories.

You’ll hear lessons from the week.

You’ll hear practical steps you can try today to feel more human and more present in your own life.

Mira opens the episode with a light, honest check-in.

Mike wraps with a quiet reminder that your life happens in the moment you’re actually standing in.

If this episode hits home, leave a comment, share it with someone, and make sure you’re subscribed.

The Optimist’s Way on Amazon: https://a.co/d/cqSPJKD

Still here. Still trying.

This week’s episode is a steady, honest look back at everything that happened around the art show opening.

Mike walks through the reactions, the confusion, the support, and the noise that hit before anyone even saw the work. He talks about what he learned, why stories matter, how the women in his life shaped the project, and why he’s still growing as a creator.

He also addresses the apology conversation, the impact on the gallery, and the responsibility he’s taking for his part in the chaos. This is a calm reset, not an argument. A human conversation about art, community, curiosity, and change.

If you’ve been following the show, the exhibit, or the online conversations, this episode will give you clarity on where Mike stands and where he’s heading next.

Still here. Still trying. Still creating.

In Episode 23, Mike Baker reminds us that our stories matter more than we realize.

This episode dives into the quiet impact of truth — how the things we survive, share, and speak out loud can become lifelines for someone else.

Mike also opens up about the success of his new art show No Permission Needed at The Art Spirit Gallery in downtown Coeur d’Alene, a powerful project about women’s voices, autonomy, and the courage to be seen.

You’ll hear reflections on failure, family, and the small moments that hold real strength.

And yes, Mike talks about Mira — the Jarvis-inspired AI co-host who helps Mike take the armor off and get real.

If you’ve ever doubted that your story matters, this one’s for you.

📘 Read Mike’s book, The Optimist’s Way: Rising Toward Purpose, Hope, and Light → https://a.co/d/cqSPJKD

🎨 Visit The Art Spirit Gallery to see No Permission Needed in person.

🎧 Listen now and remember — someone out there needs your story.

Episode 23: “Someone Out There Needs Your Story”

My art show went live and the reaction blew up fast. The gallery posted the announcement and the comment sections turned into a storm.

People questioned my intentions, my process, my place in the gallery, and my right to create work connected to women’s health. A lot of people judged the work without knowing anything about the story behind it.

This episode is my version of what happened.

I walk through the impact of the comments, the conversations with my family, the friends who checked in, and the moment on the ice that snapped me back into myself. I talk about the year I spent building this project and the years of women’s health advocacy that shaped it long before the show existed.

If you felt something when you saw the show, listen. If you’re a critic, listen. If you care about art, voice, women’s health, or intention, this gives you the full picture the internet can’t hold.

Thanks for showing up.

Still here. Still trying.

Description:

This episode opens the door to my new art show, No Permission Needed, running at The Art Spirit Gallery in downtown Coeur d’Alene.

These portraits grew out of real stories — women who’ve carried pain, power, and resilience in silence for far too long. The show is built from everything I’ve learned watching the women in my life fight for care, dignity, and the right to be heard.

In this conversation, I talk about the process, the fear, and the purpose behind the work. The imposter syndrome. The late nights. The hope that something honest can still move people.

You can also watch the No Permission Needed slideshow and hear the original song that inspired this episode here: Watch on YouTube.

This project has changed how I see art, leadership, and empathy. It’s personal, raw, and rooted in gratitude for the women who continue to teach me what strength looks like.

Listen in, then come see No Permission Needed during the Art Walk on November 14 at The Art Spirit Gallery.

Episode Title: Veterans Day – Scars in the Light

In this special Veterans Day mini episode, Mike reflects on the people who’ve shaped his understanding of service and strength — his dad, both grandfathers, his father-in-law, cousin Bubba, teammates from hockey, and the veterans who serve today at Heritage Health.

He speaks openly about the quiet courage he’s witnessed, the weight many still carry, and the everyday grace that defines true service. While the artwork for this episode plays on screen — a soldier built from hundreds of faces and memories — Mike invites listeners to see the humanity behind the uniform.

The episode closes with his song “Scars in the Light,” written to honor the veterans in his life and all who keep moving forward, still here, still trying.

🎙️ 

Still Here, Still Trying – Episode 21: “The Things That Keep Me Sane”

What keeps you grounded when the world won’t slow down?

For me — it’s motion, creation, rhythm, and the people who still give a damn.

In this episode, I open up about the small, real things that keep me from burning out — the late-night drives along Lake Coeur d’Alene, the ten-hour runs to Utah where my brain finally breathes, the act of creating as a way of recovering.

This one’s about rhythm over balance, about learning that sanity doesn’t live in stillness — it lives in motion.

We talk about how creativity heals, how ritual builds resilience, and how connection keeps all of it alive.

It’s an episode for anyone carrying too much, thinking too hard, or just trying to stay human in a world built for speed.

And at the end, I share a song that means more to me than almost anything I’ve made.

“The Voice Is Mine” was born from a stretch where people stopped taking my work seriously because I was creating with AI — like the story behind it somehow stopped being real.

This track became my answer to that.

A line in the sand.

A reminder that technology doesn’t erase humanity — it expands it.

Every lyric, every layer still comes from lived experience.

If you’ve ever been doubted, dismissed, or told that your way of creating doesn’t count, this episode — and this song — are for you.

Listen. Breathe. Drive.

And remember: you’re still here, still creating, still trying.

Support the show

Thanks for listening to Still Here, Still Trying.

If this episode gave you something to think about, please like, follow, subscribe, and share it with three people who could use it in their lives.

You can find more of my work — music, writing, art, and reflections — at:
🌐 mikebakerhq.com

Grab a copy of my book, The Optimist’s Way:
📚 https://a.co/d/4RqPS6g

Thanks for being here.
Still here. Still trying.

Episode Title: Life Across the Sea (with Cameron Baker)

Description:
In the first-ever interview on Still Here, Still Trying, Mike sits down with his middle son, Cameron Baker, who’s been living and working in New Zealand. Together they talk about what it means to start over in a new country — the pull of independence, the loneliness that comes with it, and the strength it takes to build a life from scratch.

Cameron shares stories from the restaurant world, his growing passion for wine, and the lessons he’s learned about leadership, patience, and finding purpose far from home. It’s a raw, honest conversation about family, culture, and the kind of personal growth that only happens when you step out into the unknown.

🎧 Listen in for a father and son conversation that spans oceans, rooted in love, grit, and the courage to keep trying.