The Culture Matters Podcast

"Think we should find an alternative word for the word 'fail". When you try and fail, the word should be 'discover'." - Steve SimsMentor, strategist, advisor, and author of the books Go For Stupid: The Art of Achieving Ridiculously High Goals and Bluefishing: The Art of Making Things Happen Steve Sims is back on the show for the first time since episode 11!  We're really excited for this one, folks, so buckle up!  Steve and Jay are discussing using your past experiences to help others achieve their goals, why even what appears to be the smallest of gestures can lead to big things, and why showing up is so important.  Steve has an energy very seldomly matched and we're over the moon to have him back on The Culture Matters Podcast.

Today on The Culture Matters Podcast is part eight of our ongoing series where our very own Jay Doran discusses his book, Thirty Days of Thought, and goes through the process right alongside our listeners.  In this section, entitled "Free Will", Jay is tackling the concept of what it means to think for yourself and make your own decisions.  Obviously, this episode is not meant to explain free will as a concept, but is instead meant to encourage the listener to consider what free will means to them personally and how to use it in a meaningful and constructive way.  We hope you enjoy this one-on-one chat with Jay Doran The Culture Man.

"The first man gets the oyster; the second man gets the shell." - Andrew CarnegieOur guest today is the founder of Whiplash Whiskey Rene Armas and he is here today to take us through his incredible journey from stocking wine shelves to creating his own whipped-cream flavored vodka.  Jay and Rene are unpacking Rene's early days in the alcoholic beverage industry, the phone call that got him to leave a comfortable job climbing the corporate ladder to pursue success with a little company called Pinnacle Vodka, and why sometimes you just have to roll the dice.  Rene's story is absolutely one of knowing when to hold them and knowing when to fold them and we're extremely excited he has chosen to share it on this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast.

In our final installment in our series discussing Christine Beckwith's book Finding Honor: The Journey to Truth, our very own Jay Doran gives his personal take on what these conversations have meant throughout this process.  Jay delivers some analysis and some thoughts on what has come to light during this deep dive into Christine's book and ways in which they have helped him think a little more deeply about his own experiences.  If you haven't already, we highly recommend you go back and listen to this entire series and really get to understand who Christine is and why this very personal work was ultimately a labor of love.

"Education is the kindling of a flame, no the filling of a vessel."Founder of Board of Advisors, mentor, and coach Mike Calhoun is back for another appearance on the show and the topic of the day is advisors.  What is an advisor?  What makes a good advisor versus a less than acceptable advisor?  What should the relationship between an advisor and an advisee?  What do you owe to your advisor in terms of what you put into what they are telling you?  Is an advisor right for you or should everyone have one?  All of these questions and more are getting examined and answered on this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast.

"Today, I understand bad luck, bad things, and bad situations usually occur from bad choices, bad decisions, and bad relationships. What is honor?"Founder of 20/20 Vision for Success and the author of Finding Honor: The Journey to Truth Christine Beckwith is back with us on the show for part 21 of our ongoing series where we get to hear what the thoughts and feelings were that went into writing this book straight from the author herself.  We have made it to the end!  Today, Jay and Christine are discussing chapter 21, entitled "Finding Honor", as we wrap up what has been an incredibly detailed, personal, and eye-opening account of this book.  We hope you have enjoyed hearing about this book straight from Christine as much as we have enjoyed having the discussions.  If you haven't already, we encourage you to go back and listen to the entire series and if you're all caught up, please enjoy this final discussion on Finding Honor with Christine Beckwith.

"All around us are lessons. We sit daily in shock and awe of tragedy we witness on the nightly news. We see the world suffering. We see natural disasters taking out whole towns of people and we ask ourselves why. Sometimes we ask God why. We desire the answers. The events happening beyond our own imagination are incredibly difficult to answer and I am not going to pretend to have all the world's answers in this book. I can tell you in my life's journey, I have decided everything has meaning."Founder of 20/20 Vision for Success and the author of Finding Honor: The Journey to Truth Christine Beckwith is back with us on the show for part 20 of our ongoing series where we get to hear what the thoughts and feelings were that went into writing this book straight from the author herself.  For this discussion, we are focusing on chapter 20, entitled "The Journey", and what the story is behind why this chapter was written.  Jay and Christine are discussing the difficulties and reinvigoration that comes with correcting your course, maintaining hope in the bleakest of circumstances, and why the journey is truly more meaningful than the destination.  Christine has done a wonderful job throughout this series of giving very personal accounts of her own journey and is continuing that trend in a major way on today's episode of The Culture Matters Podcast.

“Don't underestimate the power of vision and direction. These are irresistible forces able to transform what might appear to unconquerable obstacles, into traversable pathways and expanding opportunities. Strengthen the individual, start with yourself. Take care of yourself. Define who you are. Refine your personality. Choose your destination and articulate your being. As the great 19th century philosopher Fredrich Nieschze so brilliantly noted, ‘He whose life has a why, can bear almost any how.’” - Dr. Jordan B. PetersonThe founder of Duffin Media and Duffin Coaching and the man with the golden voice John Duffin is back on the program for what promises to be another enlightening chat with The Culture Man.  John and Jay are discussing why working hard should be viewed as an opportunity instead of a hindrance, why you should understand who your audience is and why you should do your best to appeal to them, and the importance of being present and in the moment.  John is a beacon of positivity and wealth of knowledge and we think you'll feel the same after this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast. 

"Accept the things to which fate binds you and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart." - Marcus Aurelius Executive Director of Adventures in Training with a Purpose and founder of Aurelius, a program designed to help veterans and first responders, Caleb Kolb is making his debut on the program today and we're going over a lot, so make sure you're ready!  Caleb and Jay dig into the origins of Aurelius and what some of the things the program does for veterans, what TMS therapy is and what its benefits are, and why the work he and his team are doing is so important, worthwhile, and rewarding.  Caleb brings an absolutely awesome energy and positivity with him and we're excited to share in on today's episode of The Culture Matters Podcast.

"I think belief and faith are powerful and I now know, today, my belief in people is my super power. I know it's a gift of extraordinary power. I've seen what it does to propel change. I have seen what it does to save people."Founder of 20/20 Vision for Success and the author of Finding Honor: The Journey to Truth Christine Beckwith is back with us on the show for part 19 of our ongoing series where we get to hear what the thoughts and feelings were that went into writing this book straight from the author herself.  Today's focus is chapter 19, entitled "The Healer", and it is a doozy.  Christine and Jay are discussing Christine's late sister, her journey to personal redemption, and how no matter the circumstances, it is never too late to seek self-improvement.  There is a lot to unpack and we're glad Christine is doing it on this episode of The Culture Matters Podcast.