The ToddCast Show

To read the entire show summary, please visit https://toddcastshow.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to a very special tax series - enjoy Free 2023 Tax Advice With Bob Wheeler CPA!

Bob Wheeler CPA from West Los Angeles is the first featured tax professional in our special 2023 Tax Series on The ToddCast Show. Born in Oakland, CA. he went to college in Memphis, TN. He pursued accounting in school to increase his GPA and originally wanted to be a lawyer, until he met some lawyers...

Over time he decided to start an accounting firm to serve those seeking professional tax support. His firm specializes in entrepreneurs and professional entertainers. On the side, Bob performs stand up comedy and has a special gift for relieving tension surrounding taxes. He single handedly rescued The Comedy Store through applying solid tax strategy to save over $100,000 in back taxes. His gifts are adaptable to a wide variety of tax situations.

We discuss the emotions associated with filing taxes and why people stress out about it. Bob remarks that it's about strategy and preparedness ahead of time. His busiest months are November and December in preparation for next April's filing deadline. He reminds us we must simply prepare and file according to the laws of the land to avoid penalties and interest. We have just 3-4 years to back file taxes and Bob suggests not letting it slide, you might have refunds waiting for those years. Claim it before you lose it.

Bob shares that you don't have to be great with numbers to benefit from tax strategy. It's important to keep track of expenses, income, and other relative documents and data to be ready to file. This, in addition to setting the money aside from your income (if self employed or 1099) to pay your tax liability. If you are not withholding for taxes, making quarterly estimated tax payments will save you from a larger tax bill at the end of the season. The IRS bases it's estimates on previous years, not the future. The amount you choose to withhold depends on the tax bracket you are currently in or the average of your previous year's steady income.

W2 employees must choose the correct withholding amount for both Federal and (where applicable) State taxes. This amount will determine your tax refund or liability amount. Withhold more now and get a bigger refund, withhold less and possibly owe taxes. It's always better to be safe than sorry by withholding a little more. Even if you cannot afford to pay, the IRS will work out a payment plan and you can avoid a 20% penalty for not filing. They currently offer terms over a maximum of a 6 year re-payment period.

We discuss how to contribute to retirement and minimize tax liability through 401k, IRA (taxed on withdrawal), Roth (pre-taxed investment) IRA and RITs. Investing in funds vs. individual stocks provide options for financial growth. Bob shares current trends and tips for tax filing in 2023, as well as examples of various tax situations he assists clients with on a daily basis. Bob is a very knowledgeable and capable tax strategist and financial consultant dedicated to helping others.

Due to the extended length of this special episode, additional notes are unavailable.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michelle Preston, a resident of Snohomish, Washington, talks with Todd about her life in the area and her perspective on Seattle. She shares her thoughts on strong communities and the changes she's seen in the city over time. They also talk about her recent concert experience with the band Odesza and her childhood memories. They discuss the Seattle Freeze, which is the difficulty of socializing and dating in the city, and how it can take a long time to figure out who we really are.

They talk about the spiritual aspect of dating, the unhealthy aspect of social media and influencers, and the importance of being in touch with ourselves. Michelle shares her own experience with changing her mindset to attract healthier relationships. Todd asks her about the best way for men to approach women in public, and they discuss the importance of women approaching men as well. Lastly, Michelle talks about her "offline movement" which is designed to help single people meet each other through wristbands available on her website. She is also a male empowerment coach and helps men to achieve what they want in life through self-awareness and better decision making.

Michelle recalls as a child she wanted to be what her parents wanted her to be, and how she is not the same person today as she envisioned as a young person. Her parents have been married for 45 years and remain together. We talk about childhood memories and how she feels as a parent today in comparison to when she grew up and changes in society. She is grateful and thankful for her life.

Michele believes the issue is about people not knowing who they are and what they want in life. It can take a long time to discover who we really are inside and remove expectations learned along the way through others.

Todd talks about the spiritual aspect of dating and meeting people, in contrast with the typical matching criteria used in modern dating applications. We talk about the unhealthy aspect of social media and influencers. Michelle shares how we attract people based on what we are thinking and feeling and how we can change this for the better. She shares how her own needy nature attracted needy people and how she changed it to enjoy healthier, more balanced relationships.

Michelle shares how people are out of touch with themselves because of comparisons made with unrealistic and often not real images. Todd asks how men can best approach women in public in a comfortable and non-threatening manner. Michelle shares how some people are open to being approached while some are not. The best is a situation with a common interest that does not interrupt, for example in a grocery store.

Todd talks about the importance of women approaching men and asks Michelle why women don't approach men more and if the did, what would happen? She shares that energetics is at play and the masculine (giving) and feminine (receiving) energies must be in congruence. Women want to feel special, protected, secure, safe, and adored.

The offline movement is Michelle's creation designed to help single people meet each other in a simple, clever new way. This is in the form of wristbands that are currently available on her website. This is her solution to helping others meet without the traditional complications associated with it. The wristbands are designed for both those seeking romance, or just friendship.

Michelle is a male empowerment coach and she builds high value men who get what they want through self-awareness and to make better decisions to get what they want in life.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's conversation, Educational Psychologist Alan Carroll discusses the connection between ego and the being. He shares insights on his own journey of self-discovery, including the influence of his parents and military background, and the role of yoga and spirituality in his life. Alan emphasizes the importance of reducing suffering and achieving happiness through mindfulness and meditation practices, which can help us become free from the trap of the ego and tap into our authentic selves. He also shares his thoughts on the power of the "pause" in our speech and how it can help us quell the ego and access the higher self. As an expert in trans-personal conversation, Alan trains speakers to harness the power of sound and silence to transform from amateur to professional speaker. Overall, the discussion highlights the importance of stillness and mindfulness in our lives as a means to tame the ego and access the being.

Married for 31 years, he credits his wonderful wife with providing harmony in his life. Alan recalls his first clarity of purpose in life during his teenage years. He studied yoga and spirituality which led to him asking if there is anything more he could be experiencing. He is a seeker of truth and advises we must reduce suffering to achieve happiness.

He shares that most of what we experience in our health comes from what we hold in our minds. The thoughts in our head can manifest in our physical bodies, emotions, and thoughts. We discuss differences in society and changes over the decades. His most memorable lesson from his parents are “don't get caught”. Alan talks about his favorite spiritual place in the world: Sedona, Arizona and his upcoming trip to the area for his birthday. We talk about Jerome, Arizona. We discuss how drugs can lower the wall to accessing spiritual consciousness and how that differs from meditation.

As an Educational Psychologist, Alan works in the trans-personal conversation of physical (ego) and metaphysical (being). He trains speakers to create the sounds and empty spaces between the sounds to transform from an amateur to professional speaker. We discuss the water experiments and how forgiveness is likely the highest vibrating feeling we can have.

Alan teaches meditation and other techniques which enable personal and professional development. He differentiates between automatic speakers and those who shape and carefully convey their thoughts. The “pause” in our speech is a conscious technique to quell the ego and tap into the authentic self. He shares thoughts about “taming the tongue of the ego” and how meditation can benefit anyone.

Simply close your eyes and breathe to start the process of meditation and training your mind not to get agitated. Practicing mindfulness is crucial to happiness and is important to practice. It takes time. Find and repeat a mantra or affirmations at a slower pace with space between the thoughts you speak. This helps us become free from the trap of the ego and awaken into our own being. We need more stillness in our life and less agitation. This can be accomplished through practicing meditation and mindfulness.

Mindfulness means to be present without labeling. In this space we can experience amazing things.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are joined by Vinnie Potestivo (45) from Brooklyn, New York for a fun second interview in today's episode. Today's discussion is about the similarities and differences in the sexuality of a straight man and a gay man. Todd reminisces about his estranged older gay brother and how he looked up to him growing up and misses his sense of humor and uniqueness. While he misses his brother, Todd desires to have a conversation with him and chose Vinnie to be sort of a "blind surrogate" for this experience. Vinnie remarks that the change in societal acceptance has changed dramatically over the decades and the importance of "safe spaces" to meet others of like mind.

Todd believes gay people really have their shit together and wonders why. Vinnie explains that as a gay man, he had to adapt and evolve in society to "fit in" and prosper. Vinnie grew up as a Baptist which evolved into a Unitarian and then Lutheran faith. He recalls how as a young person he desired to connect with others in a positive way. This was a mode of survival.

Vinnie shares the story of the "Stonewall Riots" in New York and its impact on the gay community in the late 60s. Marsha P Johnson was among the first black trans people who became the face of the gay community. During that time, "free love" was for the straight community more so than the gay community. Vinnie discusses the impact of the AIDS virus on the gay community and how gay marriage impacted the lifestyle of the gay person. We all matter. He shares that gay people "live in their truth" and how he discovered and evolved his.

Every word, every syllable, and syntax in communication matters, Vinnie shares. He discovered his voice early on in life but used to hide his sexual identity. He reflects how when he worked at MTV certain programming was restricted until after 10 pm, for example - Michael Jackson, simply due to his race. As he learned to separate himself from his work, Vinnie discovered a healthy balance between his existence and social impact. His desire to expand conversations with others revolves around the concept of communicating in relatable ways with others who may be from different backgrounds and life experiences.

Todd reflects on his estranged gay brother's professional life and success in business and life. He always admired this about him and wanted to learn from him, but never had the opportunity to do so. Vinnie discusses how sexuality and gender play a role in society. He recounts working on many popular television shows on MTV and the impact of celebrities on society. Vinnie shares that community comes from culture and culture comes from vocabulary and the power of words in the world.

We discuss "Ru Paul's Drag Race" & why neither of us has watched an entire episode. Vinnie shares that the gay community's inclusivity is about connecting with everyone. Hence the LGBTQ+ moniker. He reflects on how he made the choice between being authentic with his sexuality or hiding it in society. His focus on work consumed him and left little room to explore his sexuality. He was a steward to others. He looked for ways to "show up" where he "doesn't show up" and what that meant to him.

Vinnie gets flustered. lol We talk about masturbation, intercourse, and differences between straight and gay people's experiences. He reflects that the emotional component was key in his intimate relationships and how fear of AIDS played a role. Vinnie shares insight into trans people, pronouns, and the first amendment. Todd believes we aren't so different, after all.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are joined today by Meliza Manalo in Sacramento, California. Born in San Francisco, she recounts her earliest childhood memory of living in a tiny apartment near the beautiful local beaches with her family. She recalls having moved more than 15 times over the years in the Bay area and how she ended up in Sacramento. Through her natural sense of observance, she shares her perception as a child of being an “old soul”.

Her parents were together until her father passed. Throughout her life, her parents instilled a sense of purpose in Meliza which inspired her as a young child. As a quiet child, she remembers adults liking her and how she enjoyed talking with adults in her family. She has two sisters and one brother with a large age gap. Her parents and siblings are initially from the Philippines and she has a large family there. We discuss differences in Asian culture, health longevity vs. USA, and her love for her Mother.

Currently, as an IT professional she shares her deep passion for her industry and work. She shares how her degrees in college had nothing to do with IT, but ended up landing an internship right out of college in IT that she fell in love with. She shares the importance of hard work in her life and believes that today's young people should work harder to build character.

Host of The Talkative Introvert Podcast, Meliza which she created during the pandemic. She shares why she's an introvert and how we can recognize this in early childhood. We discuss environmental influences and whether or not people are born introverts, extroverts, or ambiverts. Her mom is an extreme extrovert. Her father was an extrovert most of his life and became more introverted as an older person. She shares how great it is to be an introvert and what motivates her socially. Todd shares the impetus of his Podcast and jokes about the single life where he lives currently. Meliza recounts the moment she decided to do her Podcast.

Todd and Meliza agree that social media is poison to society, but recalls how early AOL, ICQ, and other chat systems were fun back in the day. Todd asks Meliza for motivational advice for introverted people. She shares how introverts and extroverts can work together to learn from one another and how temperament plays a role in life. Todd shares a story from working in New York during the early stages of COVID and the genuine love he experienced among the people there. Many cared more for their neighbors than themselves.

Finally, we discuss the importance of personal differences and not labeling someone different as evil. Meliza shares that we must focus to become open-minded and remember that we need indifferent people to challenge our thinking. She shares a humbling compliment about The ToddCast Show and the appreciation of authenticity in communication. Todd thanks Meliza for her kindness and for sharing with our audience. Through genuine conversation and not pushing an agenda, we can learn more from each other with honesty and authenticity.

To learn more about Meliza Manalo please visit: https://www.thetalkativeintrovertpodcast.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are joined today by Terry Tucker (age 62) in Denver, Colorado. A former patrol officer, SWAT negotiator and undercover cop, Terry shares his story of danger as a law enforcement officer and his eventual struggle with cancer. Todd and Terry talk about drugs and the greed that drives abuse. Born in Southside of Chicago, he is the oldest of 3 brothers. He started out playing NCAA division one basketball as a person who stands 6 foot 8 inches tall. Professionally, he started out at Wendys corporate and ended up pivoting into law enforcement - despite his father not wanting him to pursue a career in law enforcement. He waited until his passing to pursue this new career. Todd shares his appreciation for law enforcement officers and believes they get a bad rap due to misconceptions in society.

Terry shares perspectives as a police officer, his desire to serve and various personal stories. He expresses how traumatizing shooting someone is and the impact it has on a police officer. He shares how this sort of experience impacts the life of the shooter forever. Terry recounts stories from his first calls as a law enforcement officer. Todd shares a couple of stories from his past experiences with marijuana in high school. Terry talks about his progression throughout the ranks of law enforcement and how that evolved into creating a school security consulting company to help protect schools from violent encounters. We talk about Uvalde and why it's become so important for schools to have a plan and resources to protect the lives of it's students and faculty.

Terry shares how drugs, alcohol and mental illness cause the need for law enforcement protection. He also shares from his perspective how the media changes the dynamics and facts in various situations. Todd shares a story about his experience with The Landmark Forum and how it taught him to live in true integrity, eliminate filters we see the world through, and how it changed his perspective forever.

His battle with cancer started about 10 years ago and talks about surviving amputation and dealing with the challenges of the disease. He talks about the details of his struggle and how Faith in something bigger than himself has helped him. Todd shares details about Royal Rife and The Rife Machine, as well as how he learned about homeopathy and the effectiveness of essential oils. We discuss how the body operates on a frequency response cycle. Todd shares details about The Water Experiment and how our thoughts impact our physical health and dynamics.

Terry shares how he wished for death and found strength and life through God. He discusses how he chose to live and face the challenges he had been dealt. He reminds to be careful what you think because it has a lasting impact on life. It's important to make something positive out of negative thoughts. Todd talks about his battle with depression and the dark hole he fought to escape. Terry shares how he went from "glass half empty" to "glass half full" mentality. He states that changing the narrative with positive thoughts and outcomes helps to change your perspective. We must keep hope alive.

In his book "Sustainable Excellence - 10 principles to leading your uncommon and extraordinary life", Terry discusses why it's important to discover your unique gifts and purpose in life. His sense of purpose in helping others through his unique experiences led him to write the book. Terry defines success as "piece of mind that is the direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing that you did your best to become the best of what you are capable of becoming". He reminds that people comparing themselves to others can interfere with the ability to understand and achieve success.

To Learn More About Terry Tucker, please visit https://motivationalcheck.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode, we are joined by Dr. Nghi Dang - an innovative mental health doctor in Fullerton, California. Born in Vietnam, he moved to the USA when he was 6. His parents are still together. We discuss Asian culture and differences with American culture and the importance of family in Asian culture. Nghi shares his beliefs as a Buddhist and the value of letting go of all humanly needs. He shares early memories with family in Vietnam. He is the youngest of his siblings and has 2 brothers and a sister. When he first came to the US, he was surprised by how differently children interacted with teachers than what he was used to in his culture.

Nghi recounts how he learned English and went from being the best in class to the worst in class. He struggled with isolation and indifference due to not knowing the language. This led to being in a lot of fights at school and having to relocate. But he dedicated himself to the process and learned the language and cultural norms. Through this process, he adapted and overcame his challenges. He recalls when his parents decided to move to a more Asian community in Orange County.

He discovered he wanted to work in healthcare to help others. He graduated medical school in 2012 and recalls the relief of completing his education. Completing his residency was the proudest moment in the process, as well as the most challenging. During his first patient experience, he recalls the regret of losing his first patient (beyond his control).

Todd and Nghi talk mental health and how far we have come to treat various ailments. We discuss ADHD, potential causes and how it feels to have this condition (Todd). Todd shares how he was fed caffeine as a baby to mitigate his ADHD symptoms. Nghi shares how to recognize the differences between normal stress and potentially a mental health condition. Todd discusses how he struggled with energy management issues and how he came to discover Lexapro as a helpful medication for him. He found the medication very helpful to reduce anxiety and erroneous stress.

Todd asks what its like for a child to struggle with mental illness, and not even knowing it. Nghi wrote a book series to highlight, address, and provide hope for overcoming mental health issues. We discuss how parents can recognize issues from school age on and seek professional help. Todd jokes that mental health is almost like a sport in America, and Nghi discusses how life changes through successful treatment of mental illness. We discuss how right vs wrong is an underlying characteristic of behavior and how adults can struggle with un-diagnosed mental illness.

As a mental health doctor, Nghi wrote a book series that addresses children's mental health issues after his nephew committed suicide. He was moved to help educate and open up a dialogue with children and parents about mental health. His nephew struggled with depression which led to an unfortunate hopelessness and eventual termination of his own life. Nghi hopes to raise awareness and prevent this despair in others, especially children. Each of his books deals with relevant issues facing children today that he has learned about through actual patient treatment. We wrap up discussing how his parents feel about his success in life and Nghi shares advice for those struggling with mental health issues. Todd talks about balance in life.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's show, we are joined by Brenden Kumarasamy from Montreal, Canada. We discuss life in Canada today. Todd shares his love of Terrance and Phillip on South Park. His parents immigrated from Sri Lanka in the 90s and he was born in Canada. He has a huge family on both sides all around the world. Todd talks about the differences between his family and other cultures. His father passed away 3 years ago, and he lives with his mother and little sister. He can't remember the last time they argued. Brenden explains how his culture combines effort and resources to help one another.

We talk about arranged marriage and how it works. Todd heard that he could meet an Asian woman by playing pai gow in Phoenix. Brendan recalls his first day of preschool as being the first memory that had a huge impact for him. He had a physical disability and didn't speak the native language, which presented challenges that he overcame. He excelled academically and worked hard to get good grades. He was the first in his family to graduate college, his sister will be the second. His family shares expenses and responsibilities related to living in order to help each other. Todd shares his college experience and that he wishes everyone knew that going to school is supposed to teach you to think.

Brenden recalls his struggles with poverty and growing up in a dysfunctional household (dad was an alcoholic). He learned what he should and should not be doing with his life. Todd shares a story about his father, who was also an alcoholic and lived a little like Jack Kerouac. Todd asks about Brenden's father, who he stopped talking with until the day he died. He recalls how his father was the biggest blessing in his life, despite the challenges.

Throughout his life, Brenden never turned to alcohol or drugs for comfort. He is clean and sober. Todd asks what it's like to be clean and clear, without addiction. He believes in personal choice and responsibility. His belief is that we have a finite time on earth and he does not want to taint his thinking or purpose in life. Todd shares some info about cannabis, cbd, cbg, and cbn. Brenden believes marijuana should be legal.

Brenden became an entrepreneur through going to business school, and how “case competition” played a role in the selection process. He saw this as his way out of poverty. At the age of 19, he learned the skills necessary to win and began coaching others in communication. He began a YouTube channel called Master Talk, which continues to be successful today – all from his mother's basement. Despite this, he coaches high level business executives in the art of communication to this day.

Through his business partner, Brenden realized he had a gift that was financially rewarding. He learned he could do what he loved and get paid well for doing it. He reflects that time is way more valuable than money. He strives to help people learn to communicate effectively. Todd is reminded that using people's name in communication is very important to respect and connection. Brenden shares that people aren't motivated enough to practice healthy communication. He encourages people to imagine how their lives will change through learning better communication skills. We wrap up by discussing how we can heal our divided world through healthy communication and love.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode, Fritznel Octave (49) joins us from Kissimme Florida. A veteran journalist, activist and author, he shares his journey as a Haitian native. Born in Haiti,he moved to the USA 20 years ago. We talk about life and culture in Florida. Todd talks about SCUBA diving in Florida. Fritznel shares his story growing up in Haiti and how the culture differs from other cultures. Community and love is the glue of the Haitian people.

He was born in a small village in remote Haiti and describes how neighbors used to watch each other's back and support the community. He describes how this has changed over the years. Both his parents are still alive and together (66 years) and recounts the blessing this is in his life. Family is huge for him – he is the 3rd born of 8 sisters and 4 brothers. He shares his love of family and how it provided loving connections throughout his childhood and life. He maintains contact with all his relatives and cherishes the love they share together.

God is first, family second, then work – the three things Fritznel keeps in mind in everything he does. We discuss differences in American and Haitian society. An optimist, he believes there is much more good than bad in the world. He shares how Haiti is viewed and sometimes misunderstood. The beauty of the culture is simplicity and meeting basic needs. It's life quality over quantity, Fritznel explains. Music was a huge part of his childhood memories. His family would pray, sing and dance together, enjoying all sorts of music – just being happy together.

Fritznel shares that he has never experienced racism in his life as a person of color. Todd believes this is refreshing and unique. Fritznel shares that racism is a mindset gained over time through perception – and becomes a way of life, if not carefully kept in check. We discuss how racism can be eliminated through education and keeping a balanced mind. We grow and learn through our differences and the presence of God in life. Fritznel shares that he believes that social media and other distractions move us away from old-school values and experiences.

We discuss the Haitian Slave Revolution in 1492 and the power of unity among the people who fought and won this important historic battle against forced labor, slavery, and other terrible conditions imposed by the colonists invading the already populated area. The slaves rebelled, organized, and defeated the colonists trying to change their way of life and enslave them. Todd shares that he is a direct ancestor of Napoleon Bonaparte (who invaded Haiti in the revolution). The final battle was waged in 1803 against the Napoleonic French Army and the slaves won their freedom. Fritznel shares how this experience shaped Haitian culture over time.

We wrap up talking about cultural differences with smoking, drugs, marijuana, and music. Haiti is a melting pot of different cultures, which contributes to it's rich diversity and cultural experience. Fritznel recently published a book “Haiti: Between Pestilence and Hope” which explores the culture in a real and raw way from his personal experience. Todd talks about his cousin Carolle Jean Murat, who is also an activist for the Haitian people. Haitians believe in community and group support. God is the key.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.