Think. Live. Repeat.

Drinking, parenting, the laugh police & Mormonism. What do all these topics have in common? More like WHO has all of these things in common. Bryce Prescott is today's guest and he's got more interesting facets than Baskin Robin's has flavors. 

The episodes are never scripted - I go in with an open mind and let the conversation flow. My conversation with Bryce may have set the record for the number of seemingly unrelated topics all covered in one conversation. We cover drinking and the process of quitting. We wade into the stream of "cancel culture" and how it impacts comedy and comedians. We dive into Bryce's background in Mormonism and how that impacted his comedy as well as how his faith has evolved. Yeah, as I said...it's a diverse mix!

FAMILY FRIENDLY NOTE: There's some colorful language that made it into the episode. Nothing explicit, but there are a few words you might not want your 5 year-old hearing. That said, you will laugh. Promise.

Wanna watch Bryce in action? Check out his home page: https://bryceprescott.com/

Check out Bryce's podcast Stand Up! today:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stand-up-with-bryce-prescott/id1582709861
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1vvzMfRV6GASBiAYqXpSlM

Bryce's Top 3 Comedians:

1. Chris D'Elia
2. Andrew Schultz
3. Shane Gillis

Follow & interact with Bryce on Instagram, YouTube & Twitter

• https://www.instagram.com/bryceprescott/
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoFjcG390xsk98MGdYPEx7Q
• https://twitter.com/dbryceprescott

Follow me on Instagram @ johnskomski for daily motivation and learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/

Music: Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)

The military and leadership - can't have one without the other and we often think of a very specific style/type of leadership in the context of the military. Some general shouting orders or a drill sergeant screaming in a recruit's face.  Well be prepared to reexamine those ideas as you listen to  Retired Lieutenant Colonel Oak McCulloch share some very different ideas on leadership. Oak has over 40 years leadership experience, 23 of which were spent as a combat arms officer in the US Army. 

We talk about everything from Oak's time in combat, leadership styles, parenting hacks and more. Oak even shares a memory about the late General Colin Powell visiting his base while serving in Desert Storm. Oak is an author and an accomplished speaker and is making a difference in the lives he serves. 

Order Oak's book Your leadership Legacy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1952037107?tag=wixlabs1234-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1

A great place to start learning more about Oak and his mission: https://www.ltcoakmcculloch.com/

Follow & interact with Oak on Instagram, LinkedIn & Twitter

• https://www.instagram.com/ltcoakmcculloch/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/oakland-mcculloch-34293256/
• https://www.facebook.com/LTCOakMcCulloch/

Follow me on Instagram @ johnskomski for daily motivation and learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/

Music: Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)

It’s easy to say you want to help people. Then comes the hard part…WHO do you help? The world is full of people with problems, but we’re not all equipped to help everyone equally. So where do you start? I reveal the essential formula for figuring out who you’re best equipped to serve!

Part of my goal with Investing Inward and the podcast has been to have a platform to share thoughts and lessons from my life in hopes that I will inspire and motivate you to change and grow. From time to time I'll be blending in a shorter episodes like these and I'd love to hear what you think! Hit me up on my socials and share your feedback. And don't forget to leave a 5-star review!

• https://www.instagram.com/johnskomski/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-skomski/
• https://www.facebook.com/johnskomski/

Learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/:

Music: Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)

Hall of Fame Episode Alert! If you're trying to establish your voice and make a difference in the lives of those around you, the next 30 minutes will be a game changer for you. Promise! Evan Carmichael is INCREDIBLE and the consistent value he brings to people all around the world each day puts him at level where very few reside. As soon as we started I knew this one was going into the Think.Live.Repeat. record books!
 
Evan hasn't let his huge successes cloud his transparency and openness about his journey. He paints a very real picture of what his life has been like, the mistakes he's made along the way and the lessons he's learned. It's incredibly rare to have someone at his level be this open and I admittedly took full advantage of it!

We talk about finding your mission, establishing a presence in a very loud/crowded space and ways to utilize others' content while remaining authentic and unique.

Evan also talked about the importance of finding satisfaction in the process and not tying happiness to the outcome. We talk about the evolution of his YouTube channel and just how vital momentum is for all of us.

Speaking of momentum, you should order Evan's new book Momentum: https://www.amazon.com/Momentum-Evan-Carmichael/dp/1952566649

Check out Evan's INCREDIBLE YouTube Channel (3.5 M Subs and growing): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKmkpoEqg1sOMGEiIysP8Tw

A great place to start learning more about Evan and his mission: https://believe.evancarmichael.com/homepage

Follow & interact with Evan on Instagram, LinkedIn & Twitter

• https://www.instagram.com/evancarmichael/?hl=en
• https://ca.linkedin.com/in/evancarmichael
• https://twitter.com/EvanCarmichael

Oh and you heard him: Follow me on Instagram @ johnskomski for daily motivation and learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/

Music: Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)

So you want to start a business? You have a side hustle and you want to leave your day job and pursue your dream job? Do you have what it takes? Let's find out! Today I'm joined by Amy Seeley & Mike Bergin, 2 successful entrepreneurs who give you the inside track on what it's like to start & run your own business.

Both Mike & Amy have been successfully running their test prep businesses for years and we dig into the mindsets and habits that are a must have when it comes to taking the plunge and leaving your day job to start your dream job.  This conversation is pure gold, you don't want to miss it!

A great place to start learning more about Amy & Mike and their businesses are below:
 https://www.chariotlearning.com/ (Mike)
https://seeleytestpros.com/ (Amy)

Check out Mike & Amy's podcast Tests & The Rest  today:
Apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tests-and-the-rest-college-admissions-industry-podcast/id1468409757
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7uYu0r083Ml9fZqFzLK8RX

Follow & interact with Amy & Mike on LinkedIn:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-seeley-35091338
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-bergin-7a350342

Follow me on Instagram @ johnskomski for daily motivation and learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/

Music: Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)

On a scale of 1-10, how generous are you? Just wait until you hear from today's guest, Bob DePasquale (aka The Generosity Guy). He's made generosity a way of life and he's on a mission to help likeminded people get connected with their causes and giving like never before!

Bob also shares about his battle with cancer as a young man and how the events of 9/11 shaped his life and the lives of those around him. He goes beyond his physical recovery and sheds light on the emotional and mental recovery process as well. We cover lessons he learned as wrote his book and an exceptionally interesting conversation he had with Simon Sinek. 

Order Bob's new book Personal Finance In A Public World o: https://www.amazon.com/Personal-Finance-Public-World-Technology/dp/1637306652

A great place to start learning more about Bob and his mission: https://www.bobdepasquale.com/

Check out Bob's podcast Speaking of Impact today:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speaking-of-impact/id1524489491
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1GNfj8a9iuhSxdV00TugPe

Follow & interact with Bob on Instagram, LinkedIn & Twitter

• https://www.instagram.com/bdepa/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobdepasquale/
• https://twitter.com/bdepa

Follow me on Instagram @ johnskomski for daily motivation and learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/

Music: Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)

Scott's life reads like a novel...and not the Disney fairy tale kind of story.  At a young age Scott learned just how cold the world can be when he and his younger brother were abducted by their mother. She fled the country with them and they were made to live like fugitives, using fake names and running from city to city. It culminated in Texas during a dramatic standoff with law enforcement and then took another turn as a legal battle ensued that captured the attention of the entire nation. 

They say true life is stranger than fiction & Scott's life is a testament to this. From his mother hiring a hitman to kill his father to burning their house down, these are the sorts of things no child should ever experience.

What's probably most incredible is just how much Scott has grown through all of this. What would easily bury most in a life of escapism and despair, Scott has met his trauma head on and worked tirelessly to grow and use these things to become a better version of himself. He serves the community through a variety of channels, raising awareness about crimes against children and educating parents how to protect their kids.

This is the story of Scott's journey from survivor to thriver and how he's taken absolutely terrible circumstances and used them to grow in ways most would never think possible.

You can order Scott's book Extraordinary Circumstances here: https://www.amazon.com/EXTRAORDINARY-CIRCUMSTANCES-Landmark-Parental-Abduction/dp/0595441696

You can learn more about Scott's incredible story here: https://scottberne.com/

Get valuable resources from NCMEC: https://www.missingkids.org/HOME

Follow & interact with Scott on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-berne-27884814/
• https://m.facebook.com/scott.berne
• https://www.instagram.com/scottberne/?hl=en

Follow me on Instagram @ johnskomski for daily motivation and learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/

Music: Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)

If you've ever scrolled through your Instagram or TikTok feed, there's a good chance you've seen a guy resembling a mildly stoned hippy. Long white beard, Einstein hair & delivering a blend of homespun wisdom and wisecracks. Sound familiar? Then you've seen today's guest - Comedian Rodney Norman! 

He's pushing 1 million followers on TikTok and his content gets an incredible number of views. He's built a cultlike following of raving fans and has the merch to prove it! 

Just a sidenote here: I had to hide the fanboy side of me for this one. I was super stoked to have a comedian of this caliber spend an hour with me and really open up about a number areas. Rodney is just like you would expect him to be...down to earth, personable and of course...FUNNY! I promise you'll enjoy this episode!

Some highlights from our conversation:

1. Rodney's first comedic routine back at the early age of 5
2. How does he decide if if a bit is funny?
3. The future of comedy - can you be funny and not get cancelled?
4. The surprising entrepreneurial aspects of comedy.
5. How to get the audience to want you!

Watch Rodney's comedic genius at work on TikTok & YouTube:

• https://www.tiktok.com/@rodneydnorman?lang=en
• https://www.youtube.com/rodneynormancomedian

Learn more about Rodney & check out his tour schedule on his website: https://www.rodneynorman.com/

Follow & interact with John on Instagram & LinkedIn:

• https://www.instagram.com/johnoleary.inspires/?hl=en
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-o-leary-08b2805/

Follow me on Instagram @ johnskomski for daily motivation and learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/

Music: Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)

Warning, you may need tissues for this one. Are you in need of some inspiration? You'll get more than your fair share after hearing John O'Leary's incredible story. John was severely burned as a child and wasn't expected to live. Through a hard fought battle, John pushed back on the temptation to give up and become a victim, choosing rather to be a victor. 

John recounts a pivotal moment in his recovery when he was hit by the "why me" wall. His dad looked him in the eye and asked him this life changing question: "John, "damnit, why not you? His father told him that he could be a victim or he could chose to rise above. He then asked him a simple 3-word question: "Victim, or victor"?

John definitely chose the latter.  

John's a devoted father and husband, speak, author & podcast host. He spends his life making a difference and inspiring people to live more inspired lives.

Some highlights from our conversation:

1. Should you be your child’s friend?
2. Thoughts on the extreme division in American politics.
3. How to raise kids in a tech obsessed world.
4. A look at what inspires John & gets him up out of bed every day.
5. How to overcome the emotional and psychological toll of trauma and ultimately thrive.

Grab a copy of John's latest booked In Awe: https://www.amazon.com/Awe-Rediscover-Childlike-Unleash-Inspiration/dp/059313544X

Learn more about John O'Leary on his website: https://johnolearyinspires.com/

Check out the Live Inspired Podcast today: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-inspired-podcast-with-john-oleary/id1166682012

Follow & interact with John on Instagram & LinkedIn:

• https://www.instagram.com/johnoleary.inspires/?hl=en
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-o-leary-08b2805/

Follow me on Instagram @ johnskomski for daily motivation and learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/

Music: Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)

How cool would it be to have an "Alexa" of personal development books? Like, you have something you want to work on and all you have to do is ask for the perfect book to fit your needs and boom...you have your title!

Look no further, such a brilliant resource exists! His name is Nick Hutchison and he's the founder of BookThinkers! Nick has an encyclopedic knowledge of personal development books and is a fantastic resource for authors and those looking to become better versions of themselves. 

BookThinkers helps authors promote their books and build ravings fanbases. Just check out a couple of his book summaries on Instagram and you'll wish you heard about him years ago!

Today we dive into a number of topics, including Nick's top 10 list of personal development books. Oh and if that's not enough, he's a world-traveler and well-versed in the philosophy of Stoicism.  

Some highlights from our conversation:

1. Turning a side hustle into a dream job
2. How to read AND comprehend a book
3. How to be a vagabond and travel on a budget
4. Nick's top 10 most impactful personal development books
5. Stoicism...what the heck is it and why does it matter?

Here's my personal bet... $50 says it's impossible to spend 30 minutes with Nick and NOT learn at least 1 thing!

Find Nick's top 10 book list here: https://www.bookthinkers.com/booklist

Learn more about BookThinkers at their website: https://www.bookthinkers.com/

Check out the BookThinker's Podcast today: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bookthinkers-life-changing-books/id1517311450

Follow & interact with Nick & BookThinkers on Instagram & Facebook:

• https://www.instagram.com/bookthinkers/?hl=en
• https://www.facebook.com/BookThinkers/

Follow me on Instagram @ johnskomski for daily motivation and learn more about Investing Inward at https://jskomski.com/

Music: Hindsight (Instrumental) by Fivefold (used with written permission)