The ToddCast Show

Tonight we deviate from the norm and will take a journey into the sounds of Electric Sex. Todd Murat, founder of Electric Sex shares his innermost feelings and perspectives through his unique and evocative musical expression. Sit back, relax, and enjoy!

ELECTRIC SEX TRACKLIST

1. Children of the Storm
2. Opulence
3. Forever
4. The Trip
5. Boom Boom Baby
6. 21 For Fun
7. Finally
8. I'm Free
9. Jupiter Dreams
10. Operator Error
11. Ninety Three
12. House of Amber Light

Want to hear more? Check out Electric Sex Official on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/electricsexofficial

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PLEASE SEE WEBSITE FOR FULL SHOW SUMMARY

I am so grateful for the opportunity to share with all the wonderful people on The ToddCast Show. This show has been revealing and inspirational in ways I never would have imagined. We began this journey together on June 9th, 2022, and over the weeks and months have heard from unique people all around the planet.

In this episode, we will review the past 39 episodes and discuss key takeaways from individual episodes and an overall consensus between all the guests collectively. So let's sit back and enjoy this special episode and share the important life lessons learned.

What do all these people share in common?

Faith, Hope, Strong Values, Purpose, Passion, Integrity, Love, Perseverance, Happiness, Truth, Healthy Relationships, Avoiding Negativity, and Focus.

How can you use these life lessons to better your life?

We can make positive changes at any point in life, it's a choice and not always easy. In my life, many lessons come from within and are directly related to relationships with others. Sometimes the harsher the experience, the bigger the lesson learned. Sometimes it's just a small seemingly random thing too that teaches us the lessons we need in life. The important thing to remember is we are never too old to learn, never too smart to be wrong, and never too wise to be humble. 

I think it's natural as we age to believe we have all the answers, but we don't. It's the age-old lesson of knowing what you know, knowing what you don't know, and learning what you don't know you don't know...sometimes we simply don't know we aren't aware of something.

A wise man once told me over and over that "baby steps" will get you to your goals. It's true. While there are many shortcuts in life, the truly meaningful and valuable things in life tend to take time. Time, patience, perseverance, and a sense of purpose make us take that first step, then the next, and so on...

IMPORTANT LIFE LESSONS LEARNED

Live in true integrity - meaning, always do what you say you will do and when you say you will do it,

and the moment you realize you cannot do it, let the other person know. Tell the truth, always.

Always Believe In Yourself - But Learn To Know When You Are Wrong & Own It.

Never underestimate your potential. You have the potential for greatness.

Never be self-seeking in business. Always maintain the attitude of being in service to others.

Never undervalue yourself as a person. You have value just as God created you.

Never compare yourself to others. They are not living your life, you are.

Never choose hate over love. The energy of hate can hurt our minds and destroy our health.

And never say never...because amazing things do happen, seeming miracles.

Remember, one step first, then the next, and so on. Take it one day at a time, while keeping your eye on the long-range picture and timeline of your actions and achievements...even your setbacks. Believe it or not, a setback can be part of the bigger plan and might actually help you.

WHAT CAN YOU DO RIGHT NOW?

Get out there and be the best you possible. 

Learn to love yourself and others even more. 

Make a new friend, say hello to a stranger. 

Give of yourself in an altruistic manner.

Create goals that help and serve others.

Stay true to your course and be patient.

Humans can do anything we set our minds to, and I encourage you to pursue what sets your heart on fire. Find that thing and do it in a way that helps others, it will reward you and provide fulfillment and inspiration to further fuel the pursuit of your goals.

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Keith Steincamp joins us today from Stigler, Oklahoma to share the story of how he grew up and found his calling in life. Born in Midwest City, Oklahoma Keith reflects on having lived close to his birthplace for his entire life. He talks about the passing of his late father, just before going to college. Todd shares a story about his late father and how he passed unexpectedly as well. Todd shares a song by Mike and The Mechanics called The Living Years, which tells the tale of regret associated with loved ones who pass on. Keith's earliest childhood memory revolves around Christmas time and a pair of cowboy boots and a lantern that made him feel like a big shot for a 4-year-old. One day he went out for a walk alone in the dark with his boots and lantern, much further than he ever ventured before. Todd shares that when he got boots as a child, he kicked people in the shins a couple of times and soon his boots were no more. Keith interprets his childhood as interior and exterior.

He felt good about things throughout life - externally. Internally, he describes things going downhill. He became less optimistic and depressed, which took its toll on his psyche. He recalls abuse as a child and somehow interpreted the experience as "not being good enough", even though he was. The disrespect he experienced in this trauma became confidence issues inwardly. The strain on friendships was related to his feelings of inferiority and lack of hope. Keith shed his negative thinking over time by exploring religion. He thought God was a rules person and something he did not need in his life. In high school, he played lead guitar and singer in a rock band and recorded and published his music publicly. His wife was completely supportive of this and helped him fulfill this goal.

As someone into rock and metal music, he received an album (vinyl) from a friend from a Christian Rock band called Resurrection Band. He found the stories in the lyrics interesting since they revolved around real-world experiences. He went to a concert for this band and began to discover his relationship with God. He became a Christian that night, which changed him forever. He felt a sense of morality and humility in the ways he displayed musical expression. He discovered God loved him and has a purpose for his life.

We discuss how we sometimes compare ourselves to others and create the illusion that we are somehow not as good as we could be. We sometimes are hard on ourselves and criticize ourselves, which seems to stem from the bad things that happen, rather than the good ones. We always seem to compare our bad selves, rather than compare the good self. Over time, his thinking changed and he discovered hope in relationships. His confidence got better with practice and time. He forced himself to be open in relational connection with everyone.

Keith recalls running from God in his early days and how he realized later in life how much it could have helped him. He was grateful to have had both parents together for most of his life. He recalls that his parents did not communicate openly, which had an impact on him. His sister was older and wasn't around as much later in his teen years. He learned from his sister's relationships and always remembered the one who would play catch with him as a child.

Keith works with business owners to help them take their businesses to the next level. He helps them realize their focus and purpose to increase profitability and value. He helps them to achieve what they want out of their business and in life. With his help, a business owner can make dramatic changes over time.

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Brigitta Hoeferle joins us from Atlanta, Georgia to discuss relationships and how to have healthy ones. Born in South Germany, she grew up in a small village between two vineyards. Both parents stayed together until her father passed 10 years ago. She grew up (the youngest) with two sisters. She recalls how she was inspired by Molly Ringwald as a young German person. Both Todd and Brigitta reflect on being bullied as a child in public school and the outcome of those experiences. 

The earliest childhood memory for Brigitta was picking strawberries with her pet Great Dane and walking around the villages. She recalls having a very happy and protective childhood but recalling the narrow-minded thinking of some in the same area where she grew up. Brigitta remembers being the leader of the pack in her friend group and didn't realize her interest in boys until she was 16. It wasn't until she was 17 that she started to realize what else was out in the world and that was when she had her first long-term relationship of 3 years.

Brigitta discusses the feeling of being stuck and how that motivated her to make changes. We discuss cultural diversity and the need for some to travel and others who are content at home. Brigitta believes there are individual preferences within each and every one of us that we cannot put in a box. Brigitta loves to travel, and Todd hates to fly and is content on the ground. Coming to live in the USA from Germany was a huge achievement in her life. She appreciates the Land of Opportunity that America offers. In Germany, she shares that it is much more difficult and bureaucratic to start a business..." they will bury you in paperwork", she recalls.

Even with the stark differences between countries, Brigitta feels that one is not necessarily better than the other. Every place presents different pros and cons. When you understand the environment you are in, you are in a position to keep yourself safe, even in a perceived dangerous area. Todd shares his thoughts on being a responsible gun-carrying citizen and the dread of ever having to think of fending off a criminal with deadly force. 

We talk about the changes in society over the decades, increasing prices, and things we cannot control. Brigitta does not take hate as part of her portfolio, Todd, and she agrees that love is the way. Brigitta believes in living outside the box and helps others to find their limitations, communication, and behavior are holding them back from what they want.

The results you receive is in direct relationship to the quality of your inner and outer communication. She helps people look at themselves honestly and find what they want in life. She works with individuals, corporate trainers, and anyone who wants to change for the better. Brigitta helps people uncover the truths in what often play out as unproductive cycles in life. Her focus is to work to help others to create a win-win-win situation. 

It's important to practice "I" statements, rather than "you" statements. Owning our behavior and circumstances starts with I statements. It is not about the other person, it is you. We must learn to differentiate between you and I statements and own the outcomes.

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Bob LeMent (56), Host of Static Radio, joins us from St. Louis, Missouri. Born in Decatur, Illinois, he recalls growing up in the late 70s and 80s with both parents married. He recounts that all of his relatives are divorced, except for his parents, who stayed together until his father died not too long ago. He has an older brother. Bob's earliest childhood memory is with his Grandfather on the boat dock on the lake at age 3, fishing from his Grandparent's property. He remembers using a stick, a string, and a bent pen his Grandfather made for him. He remembers enjoying working in the garden and playing cards and games with his Grandparents. We explore some of his fondest memories of this time in his life.

As a youngster, Bob was sickly and often stayed with his Grandparents by design. He struggled with asthma at this time. He had Chihuahuas growing up, which did not affect his asthma. Todd shares that Chihuahuas come from a crossbreed of a sewer rat and a Doberman Pincher. Bob shares that his Mother still inhabits his childhood home. He reflects that a stable home life helped keep him from harder-edged life experiences. We discuss drug addiction and the issues of choosing this path. His family was always there for him.

Bob reminds Todd he is likely not the reason for all this and that an issue has many components. Depression is a version serious situation that needs to be addressed. Todd misses his family and his inability to compromise and close with them. He would enjoy talking with his estranged family members but realizes they think differently. 

Bob reflects on his relationships in high school and when he gets into dating around age 17, the same age he graduated high school. He used to have long, curly hair and was constantly mistaken for a heavy metal musician, but he never practiced an instrument. If he were to, he would sing by choice. Bob didn't find his direction in life until age 28. 

As a 20+-year veteran of broadcasting, Bob is exploring the Podcast world to enjoy communicating with others. He enjoys working alone and is very technically minded. He shares the air currently with his co-host Miles on his radio show of 24 years. Bob currently works at a non-profit helping people and enjoys being in the background, enabling others to do their thing. 

Bob reminds us that moderation is key in all things. Knowing your limits and staying within them is vital to stay on track. Todd talks about how he discovered marijuana at age 11 and the positive impact of that experience throughout life. He continues with a story about his first LSD trip on a Halloween night in Southern California in High School. That changed his life in truly amazing ways, changing many things in ways that seemed genuinely magical. He talks about how he became a vegetarian and what acid did to resolve issues in astounding ways.

We discuss Timothy Leary and the potential to broaden thought with LSD. Bob ends with a funny story about being sober and dealing with two girlfriends on LSD. Todd talks about how he used to ride around on his bicycle in the forests of Humboldt county in college on LSD without lights and the adventures of his earlier years along those lines.

The best advice in life Bob shares is to believe in yourself. You don't have to be the best at anything; you just have to do something you like. What matters is that you enjoy it, not that you become something. Never compare yourself to others. Be there for yourself. No one else will. Don't be afraid or ashamed to ask for and seek help when you need it.

Bob has no agenda and nothing to promote. Go check him out!

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Nicky Billou (55) joins us today from Toronto, Ontario, Canada to discuss the journey and sacrifice to achieve unlimited success. As a Christian, Nicky seeks to help and love others through his various gifts. Born in Iran, he recalls being in school as a young child running around...and used to get mad at others and kick them in the shins. He got in trouble a lot as a child. Punishments were severe and direct when he did something wrong. He recalls living in Iran under the Shaw was great until the new regime took over during the Islamic Revolution. He was 11 at the time. His family spent 4 years on their journey to Canada, by way of Athens Greece. His mother worked as an ER nurse and then managed the bookstore where Nicky attended school. Nicky went to an American school in Iran, with a diverse mix of cultures in attendance.

His parents were married for 55 years and always expected a lot from Nicky and his two brothers. This made him pursue success in a bold way throughout his life. We discuss how violence is sometimes the answer in defense of someone or something. Nicky shares how he feels we are living in the "weak man era" and how we need more people to step up before society collapses altogether. We discuss the importance of overcoming fear in life. When he first arrived in Canada, he found it difficult to adjust, which lasted for several years. He missed Iran which made it hard to acclimate to a new Country. He recalls how loyalty was the glue between people in Iran. He didn't notice these values in Canadian people for quite some time. Eventually, he found his stride and became comfortable living in Canada.

Nicky recounts how his parents worked hard to assimilate and become connected to their new culture. We discuss generational differences in relationships and the effort to destabilize western society and diminish manhood, patriotic viewpoints, and traditional values. We discuss the book of Revelations and Todd admits he would rather it all be a big surprise when Jesus comes to take us home. Nicky was very much into music and reading during his teen years. We discuss the value and beauty of a connection to God and the importance of it in life. Todd shares his love of the author Richard Bach and how the book Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah influenced him in his teen years.

Helping people is Nicky's passion and he is very good at it. He helps people add zeroes to their income, become physically fit, and enhance life in many ways. He shares how sometimes people in business are good at what they do but do not understand how to run a thriving business. Nicky helps people accomplish this through teaching and coaching. We talk about how sometimes people are afraid to ask for the money they deserve and must focus on the help they provide to others - that warrants the value of their service.

People buy their way out of something, not into something. What we do must address the pain someone is having and provide a solution to it. Discuss how you will help others, not the product or service you have to sell. Don't undervalue your service offering. Expectancy bias provides for a higher price for higher-value solutions. Narrow your focus and don't generalize or try to serve everyone. Answer the question "how does what you do help me"?

Nicky can help you become an entrepreneur and create a roadmap to unlimited success by understanding what you need to do to get where you want to be. He will help you find your reason why and what to do to make things grow. He gets real with his clients and helps people find the way to their success. "Seek the truth and the truth shall set you free". Nicky wraps up with a heartwarming story...

To learn more about Nicky Billou, please visit: https://www.ecircleacademy.com/appointment

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Dr Carolle Jean-Murat, Author, Diabetic Consultant, OBGYN, Surgeon, Healer, and Todd's long-lost cousin, joins us in a special episode that breaks from the tradition of the show. After 20 years of not communicating, Todd reached out to Dr. Carolle over the holiday season, apologized, and asked for forgiveness to reconnect and share our familial bond. She explains the importance of forgiveness and love in all relationships. She is a deeply spiritual person by nature and recalls the reasons why chose to take Todd's phone call after 20 years. Dr. Carolle describes the joy she felt hearing from Todd after so long and that she was touched by the courage of reaching out to call her. We shared the thankfulness of making the connection again and how it felt from both sides. 

We fight toxic emotions when we seek forgiveness and apology. Todd shares the joy and gift of being accepted again by Dr. Carolle. They recount the connection they share and that it took strength to reconnect again.

Dr. Carolle was born in Port Au Prince, Haiti. Her grandfather was a very well known healer, voodoo priest, and herbalist. Her grandmother was a very stong, renaissance woman who reinforced the belief that she could do anything in her life that she wanted to. She shares that her gifts come from her family. After battling a terrible illness, she was healed and became determined to practice medicine and heal others. 

She attended a prestigious private school in Haiti, was a volleyball star, and even made it to the Olympics but through a strange coincidence was not able to compete. We discuss our ancestry and both being descendants of Napoleon Bonaparte and Joachim Murat. 

We discuss the gift of healing and how it works "without the knife". Dr. Carolle discusses how a person must ask to be healed and to believe it is possible. She shares her first hands-on healing experience with a patient and the series of events that occurred. Her healing gifts come from her Grandfather and she is proud and thankful to share this gift with others. She recounts that the Holy Spirit is the focus of asking for the healing process. 

Healing is a choice that a recipient can receive or deny, based on belief. She shares that she is simply a conduit of God and the power of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. 

Todd shares a story about his late father literally removing a lung tumor through spiritual and mysterious means back in 1970. His father was brought in for surgery and told the doctors "the tumor is gone", and eventually the doctors agreed to x-ray his chest again and sure enough - the tumor was gone, literally overnight. His father's story inspires Todd to believe in the power of natural and spiritual healing. 

Dr. Carolle's latest writings address spiritual healing practices and lead the reader to understand how to receive the healing in an effective manner. Todd shares that he struggles with his estranged family members for what they did and finally realized he can forgive without having to forget. For him, this was a tough distinction to make and took decades to finally realize. He often wonders how family can destroy itself in the manner his did. 

Dr. Carolle wraps up sharing that she intends to continue her journey through education and ongoing healing for others. Her books are a valuable resource for anyone seeking true healing and to escape the mind-body-spirit loop of negativity that often creates disease. She shares that everyone knows the "why" of disease and just need to find it to enable healing. Through forgiveness and love, this gift is accessible to all who seek it.

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Michaell Magrutsche, Creativity, Awareness Educator, and Author, joins us from Laguna Beach, California to discuss his experiences with dyslexia and personal awareness. He reflects on his childhood experiences being dyslexic and how it impacted his life. He differentiates between dyslexia and dysgraphia and how these things change how he interprets written and typed content. He explains that when he writes, it is not legible to him or others. Using typed writing as opposed to handwriting is easier to interpret. Sometimes dyslexic people reverse things and while they intend to say one thing, they might say the inverse instead or a conglomeration of words that mean something different than intended. He shares this condition with his sister. 

Hailing from Austria, Michaell struggled with systems in school and describes it as being very "clicky" and was based on association more than personal achievement. He learned to communicate and effectively interact with others while struggling to complete some of the educational requirements. This caused him to repeat certain classes in order to pass the class. 

Dyslexia does not impact speech, only writing and reading. He credits having a strong spirit to overcome these challenges and discover his true potential. Michaell shares his thoughts on self-shaming and the feelings associated with dyslexia. 

As a young person, Michaell reflects that he wasn't interested in the same things as other young people. He preferred to speak with adults, doctors, and others outside his age group. Neurodiverse people need alone time to reflect and process. This is heightened with dyslexia and autism. 

His parents allowed Michaell to be himself, to discover his own path in life. They were never pushy and were neutral in many situations. We discuss living by a positive set of values. Humans are DNA driven by forces that promote inclusivity and human relationships. We learn from one another and become enriched by this experience. The desire to connect deeply with others is a natural process and the highest factor in longevity is human relationships. For better or worse. To live longer, choose healthy human relationships. This important factor can get lost in the minds of people but can make a significant difference in the quality and longevity of life. 

Michaell realized he is an artist, not by the system's standard, but by his own standards. He argues that systems of society can delude and separate people from nature. Creativity is the best way to unveil who you are. His book "Smart of Art 2" discusses neurodiversity and how these "conditions" are actually a superpower. By seeing outside of systems, we recall we are part of nature and nature has all the answers available for us to discover. 

Unaware people make wrong choices without even knowing it. Michaell can help individuals and corporations unlock the power and value of awareness and turn that into success.

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Alex Fink, a software developer with a background in optical devices, hails from Austin, Texas, but his journey to the city is anything but typical. Born in Eastern Europe, he has crisscrossed the globe in search of a place to call home. Alex recalls how, early in his life, he was forced to flee his homeland due to the ongoing dangers and strife in the area. His parents, along with his older brother, accompanied him on his journey.

Memories for Alex, he shares, revolve around useful information, which is why it can be arduous to recall early life experiences. We delve into the idea that early experiences shape our interpretation and reaction to things in later life. Alex has lived in a variety of countries, including the Soviet Union, Israel, Japan, and the USA, and he reflects on his experiences adapting and assimilating to new cultures.

As a Russian speaker, he recalls making a conscious effort to maintain his accent to set himself apart from the crowd. He candidly recounts what it was like to live in these different countries, describing the challenges he faced in each one.

Todd shares a little of the Old West story of his home in Mayer, Arizona, while Alex reveals that, as a child, he felt people were constrained and lived according to other people's expectations. However, he believed that he could be the best at anything he set his mind to, and he recalls being drawn to early 1900s America as a child.

Upon arriving in America in his 20s, he went to live with his brother and discovered a desire to put his talent and energy into things of genuine value. He experienced cognitive dissonance and felt he could do more in his life. His wife was extremely supportive of his entrepreneurial inspirations and pursuits. While Alex enjoys acting on impulses, he uses his logical mind to balance out his ambitions and achieve the desired outcome. Todd shares how his background has naturally and unexpectedly led to the ability to overcome challenges in the future.

Alex opines that the world suffers from an overabundance of "click bait" and reminds us that the real problem lies in the users themselves. He imagines a system called The Other Web, which blocks advertising and aggregates many popular online destinations, including search engines, wikis, social platforms, and more. His aim is to provide unbiased results and eliminate "bad" advertising methods. Using AI machine learning, he leverages technology to minimize human labor hours and maximize outcomes. His system runs on open source to allow anyone to review and analyze every aspect of the system.

The Other Web allows for unique interactivity with search options, as well as the ability to disable elements that would likely be advertising. The end result is a genuine and accurate resource that removes the content that is "advertising motivated." It seeks to maintain authenticity in the user experience. Alex wraps up with a message to the world: "keep principles in mind, what you put into your brain is similar to what you put into your body." Stop consuming junk and tune out the noise.

Todd ends with a valuable life lesson: "we know what we know, we know what we don't know, and we don't know what we don't know." That last one is the most challenging.

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Neal Zimmerman from Austell, Georgia joins us today to share his 17 years of Professional Tax Preparation experience. He simplifies the complexities of the IRS Tax code, laws, and procedures for W2 and Self Employed or 1099 individuals. We discuss some common issues and areas of focus for many tax filers seeking to smooth out the process of filing their taxes. Neil prepares taxes for individuals and businesses alike and discusses strategy and preparation practices that anyone can apply to their tax filing experience. We cover topics including 1099 Independent Contractors, W2 Employees, Retirement, Expenses, Deductions, and the changes in the standard deduction for 2023 and all the new tax brackets.

We discuss the Child Tax Credit changes for 2023 and the impact it will have on filers this year. This effects filers with children under 17. The difference between a credit and deduction is an important factor in filing taxes. Deductions are Federal and reduce overall taxable income. The standard deduction is applied and the remainder is taxable income. Tax credits are a dollar for dollar reduction of your income.

Neal explains the importance of hiring a tax professional for certain filers vs. doing it themselves. Depending on the individual's unique tax situation, it may benefit the filer to seek professional advice to maximize the benefits of tax laws in favor of the filer. He shares the difference between CPAs, EAs, and CFPs, as well as the benefits of working with each. We learn that each tax return is the responsibility of the filer, even though the hired tax professional signs their name on the return. Neal cautions against working with a referral at a low cost at the expense of potentially having filing issues. The importance of experience can make the difference between a favorable outcome and an IRS audit.

We explore traditional options in retirement and how taxes apply to long term savings and retirement. Also, Neal reveals that the IRS are actually nice people who simply want to do their jobs. They are not out to get anyone and simply want filers to follow current tax laws and procedures. We discuss quarterly payments for self employed individuals and for new business owners, we learn that with a proper strategy an individual can minimize their tax liability at tax time.

Finally, we learn about a real life story where Neal was able to help a client back file his taxes to recover $28,000 by simply filing married vs married, filing separately. A previous, less experienced tax expert didn't advise the client properly and ended up costing the client in the refund amount he could have received. We learn that you can file amended returns for the past 3 years. Whether you think you know tax law, unless you are a professional with real life experience - it's more than likely a tax professional will positively impact an individuals overall tax situation.

Neal contributes his knowledge and experience in an altruistic manner and simply wants to help people reduce the stress and anxiety at tax filing time. Don't wait till the last minute, the deadline for standard filing is April 18th, 2023.

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