The Engine of Matt Todd: Recent Episodes
Matt Todd
Community advocacy, social commentary, and educational resource, The Engine of Matt Todd brings it all together.
Karin Shumway is a mother of 5 in SRVUSD. She is running for a board seat in Area 2 against Shelley Clark. I offered Shelley an in person as well as remote interview, and as of the publishing of this interview, she has not accepted. Enjoy!
Deputy Gomez is a nationally recognized School Resource Officer with incredible knowledge and insights into the dark work of social media and the scams involved. In this show, we speak specifically about the nature of "sex-tortion" on SnapChat, how it plays out differently for boys and girls, why our young men are committing suicide, and what we as parents can do.
If you'd like to see the YouTube video, here is the link https://youtu.be/npTNJjaieK0
Jerome Pandell is running for Board of Education in SRVUSD Area 1. He also has a very colorful history with public comments about teen sex, sex with teachers, oral sex, and more on Twitter. These are important considerations when assessing someone's character, especially when that person is running for school board.
Jesse vanZee is a candidate running for the Board of Education in the San Ramon Valley Unified School district. He was recently in a candidate debate that had poor technical setup, thereby cutting him off at various points. We had a great conversation about book restrictions and other issues the district is facing. Enjoy!
Demetrius Ball is the principal at California High School. He has been working in the district at the middle and high school levels for years and recently became the subject of much frustration regarding on campus policies. Hearing about how and why he made the calls he did and how he addressed the issues as the played out was great. Enjoy!
Jesse VanZee is running for the Board of Education for San Ramon Valley Unified School District. This is the second interview to cover a myriad of happening since the start of school, and Jesse's perspective and adaptability to the situations was really encouraging. He gives me hope for SRVUSD. Enjoy!
Jesse VanZee is running for the Board of Education in San Ramon Valley Unified School District. He is a father of 5, avid volunteer, executive, and a very insightful individual. I hope this will be the first of many. Enjoy!
Well, the saga continues! Dr. Malloy gets an extension, and the Cal Stunt team continues to be left in the cold.
Laura Gantt is the mother of one of the defamed Cal High stunt team athletes and is spear heading the legal defense to restore their names. This issue has taken an incredible toll on the girls and their families, and the restorative process must start with understanding what has happened to them.
The Stunt team at California High School has recently been accused of racism, but the facts of the situation make this one of the most disgusting, deplorable attacks on our youth I have ever seen. If any parents affected by this would like to speak on air, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Dr. Mike Murphy is an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor practicing in the Bay Area. He has been working with people to help all kinds of ailments stemming from restricted air flow as well as help educate parents and families about issues plaguing our youth. He was great. Enjoy!
Aaron Andrikopoulos is one of the two founding educators at AJ Tutoring. After playing water polo at Davis, he and his partner Joe decided to go into private education and have since built one of the largest privately owned education centers in the Bay Area. Speaking with him and hearing his passion for education and students is inspiring. Enjoy!
Lisa Disbrow taught in Northern California school districts for almost 40 years and recently retired in response to the ever changing political landscape in public education. Her stories and experiences starting as far back as the 1970s paint a very clear picture of the public school system and the powers at work within it.
Kathleen DeLaney is a seasoned civil litigator and mother of past and present SRVUSD students. We spoke expressly about the consequences and details of the Senate and Assembly bills on the table that would mandate vaccines, allow young people to receive vaccinations without parental knowledge or consent, and more. I love her perspectives and greatly appreciate her taking the time to speak with me. Enjoy!
Len Schultz is a School Site Counsel member in the SRVUSD as well as a parent of several current students. His insights into the shifting nature of the job and the shifting curriculum was important to hear. Enjoy!
There have been enormous strides in the LGTBQ+ community since I was a kid. More people have been able to express themselves and find acceptance within their communities than ever before, but the PRISM clubs that are all over SRVUSD are, in my opinion, putting that progress at great risk. This is likely an unpopular opinion with many, but unless something is done, these clubs may well take us backwards and do more harm than good.
They take so long to make, and the clean up is atrocious, but the compounding benefits are like guiding lights into tomorrow.
Ross Hillesheim is a member of the Contra Costa County planning commission, a member of the Alamo Sherif Police Service, a commercial developer, and an all around gem in our community. I greatly appreciate his perspectives on county growth and community struggles and am so thankful that he had the time to speak with me. Enjoy!
This is part 2 of Hellen of DV and her comments from the January 18th BOE meeting. Enjoy!
Chris Koenig is an independent real estate developer and consultant. He has extensive knowledge of local pressures and issues playing into the housing crisis. For anyone wondering how to achieve the highest and best use for his/her property, Chris is the man to call. I love speaking with him. Enjoy!
Chris Koenig 925-984-5683
Brought to you by...
Krushwell - The premier Vodka Seltzer - Locally owned, Universally enjoyed.
https://krushwell.com/
AJ Tutoring - The absolute best Bay Area resource for not only K-12 general assistance and test prep but also college and professional test assistance.
https://www.ajtutoring.com/
Don't so quickly give away permission for someone else to give you permission.
Brought to you by...
Krushwell - The premier Vodka Seltzer - Locally owned, Universally enjoyed.
https://krushwell.com/
AJ Tutoring - The absolute best Bay Area resource for not only K-12 general assistance and test prep but also college and professional test assistance.
https://www.ajtutoring.com/
Dr. Kevin Ahern, the principal at MVHS, stepped up and requested a change of policy for the MVHS Junior Prom. He laid the foundation for equity in practice, not just in language. Well done, sir!
Renee Morgan is the current Danville mayor. She has been with the town council since 2012 and worked for years prior to that. There are unique aspects of being a mayor in Danville, and it's important to realize we play a part in supporting and getting the best talent for Danville.
As Gofundme takes a large portion of donations, the family has switched to Venmo. Please put “Troy Stem Cell” in the memo.
https://venmo.com/code?user_id=2556034962948096150&created=1643412367.764573&printed=1
Most of us understand the draw towards heroism, but it would be wise to not let someone else's story fill your head too much.
Brought to you by...
Krushwell - The premier Vodka Seltzer - Locally owned, Universally enjoyed.
https://krushwell.com/
AJ Tutoring - The absolute best Bay Area resource for not only K-12 general assistance and test prep but also college and professional test assistance.
https://www.ajtutoring.com/
I have recently be chastised by certain parents who feel I should no longer speak about anything having to do with Danville because I no longer live there. This is an interesting perspective for someone to take and not one that I even disagree with completely. Enjoy!
Brought to you by...
Krushwell - The premier Vodka Seltzer - Locally owned, Universally enjoyed.
https://krushwell.com/
AJ Tutoring - The absolute best Bay Area resource for not only K-12 general assistance and test prep but also college and professional test assistance.
https://www.ajtutoring.com/
Monte Vista High School has officially introduced the two tier student system comprised of those that will be valued and included and those who will be openly excluded (though they will say that they are sorry you're being excluded...). Enjoy!
Brought to you by...
Krushwell - The premier Vodka Seltzer - Locally owned, Universally enjoyed.
https://krushwell.com/
AJ Tutoring - The absolute best Bay Area resource for not only K-12 general assistance and test prep but also college and professional test assistance.
https://www.ajtutoring.com/
Hellen of DV is one of the most active yet dismissed parents in all of SRVUSD. She speaks constantly at the Board of Education meetings, but she is very rarely understood fully. Enjoy!
Brought to you by...
Krushwell - The premier Vodka Seltzer - Locally owned, Universally enjoyed.
https://krushwell.com/
AJ Tutoring - The absolute best Bay Area resource for not only K-12 general assistance and test prep but also college and professional test assistance.
https://www.ajtutoring.com/
Courtney Drefahl is a mother of two in the Danville/San Ramon area. As many of us have, she has been trying to manage her family and work while dealing with the ever changing rules and restrictive measures around the pandemic. Although she and I do not agree on everything, we do absolutely agree that speaking up for your family and your needs are absolutely crucial. She is also named on and part of the law suit recently filed against SRVUSD as she truly believes that the masking restriction, among others, and not only not necessary but also harmful.
Tony Battilega is the former San Ramon Valley High School men's Baseball coach. He was unexpectedly fired on Friday the 14th of January. The messaging from the district has been cryptic at best, but there are a few things that are painfully clear and the community and athletes will have to deal with as a result of these actions.
Peter Scarpelli is the exiting Athletic Director for San Ramon Valley High school. He had the impossible job of navigating covid and the restrictions it put on our student athlete families, but his departure has deeper roots. I greatly appreciate him, and our community will have a big hole to fill. Enjoy!
DeeDee is a mother in the community working alongside others to organize educational pods for people do not want their children affected by vaccine mandates. She is an outspoken advocate for choice, and talks very candidly about her own experience with a child who was vaccine injured. Moments of this were heart breaking, and I can't thank her enough for sharing her position, experience, and time.
Jack and Nico Bianchi are Danville natives, twins, and the hosts of the Telepathy podcast. They have dynamite social commentary and are masters of highlighting odd social behavior that has become standard. They were great. Enjoy!
Brad Layous is a UCLA Bruin, Cal Bear, father of two, husband, former Google badass, and the heart and soul of Krushwell. It's not about the drink or the experience. It's about who this person is. Brad is next level. Enjoy!
Curious about every book your student has access to or is being assigned for your student to read? Well, that information classified, kind of. This is shocking.
If you have been enjoying these podcasts and would like to support the continued production of them, please consider offering support at my Patreon page. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you for listening.
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=64021982
Charlotte Wood Middle School in Danville and other schools in SRVUSD have some students reading George. Many parents were unaware of the book and its content and have been appalled when they learned about what was in it. Marianne Gutierrez was one of those parents. She very courageously agreed to not only read the book and detail what she felt was wrong with it, but also come on and speak with me about it. We play actual clips from the book, and when I put the warning in the title, I wasn't joking. This book is recommended for 8-12 year olds, but has no place in a sixth grader's hands.
If you have been enjoying these podcasts and would like to support the continued production of them, please consider offering support at my Patreon page. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you for listening.
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=64021982
Chris Koenig is a social commentator on many local media platforms. He's also a property rights advocate, real estate development expert, and marginal CrossFit athlete. This was the first of many. Enjoy!
Enjoying the podcast? Please consider supporting me on Patreon.
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=64021982
equality
equity
inclusion
ONLY when it's not going to screw up tradition!!!!
Enjoying the podcast? Please consider supporting me on Patreon.
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=64021982
Tiffany Stuart owns and operates Dynamic, a professional office and accounting recruiting firm. She is experiencing first hand the impossible nature of our national hiring/employment crisis as she struggles to help employers stay in business. Her insights into what people, especially young people, can do to improve their chances of long term career success were fantastic. Enjoy!
Enjoying the podcast? Please consider supporting me on Patreon.
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=64021982
The number of things that are not taught in schools should increase, because the things that are taught in schools is wrong.
They are packaged as games and experienced as such for observers, but the participants may be seeing it as anything but a game.
Jason Scherer is a world renowned prize truck driver. He has competed for over a decade in premier races such as the Baja 1000 and King of the Hammers. He’s also a Danville Native, De La Salle alumnus, and world class father. He was a joy to sit with.
Adam Schuman is the owner of Danville Music, legit international rockstar, and an incredibly unique guy. My appreciation for him spans many decades, and I always enjoy hearing his perspective on school, education, business, and life. Enjoy!
Courtney Drefahl is a Let Them Breath advocate. She has two younger children and has done an incredible amount of footwork to understand what the potential drivers are for our current masking situation. Enjoy!
Gina Veazey is a moderator on the NextDoor social media platform. She agreed to come in and speak about the nature of her job, where she sees NextDoor fitting into the social fabric, and how we can all improve out community. She was an absolute pleasure to host. Enjoy!
We want authenticity and authentic function, but to really need something is also potentially a dark reality.
Ari Nagy is a Hungarian immigrant, father of three, small business owner, and committed Christian. He brings an amazing perspective as an individual who has experienced real communism and also as a self made man raising a family in our community. He's a special kind of person. Enjoy!
Todd Weinberg is a local business owner, community builder, father and husband. He is the proprietor of The Den on School Street and founder of the Recalibr8 group. Danville is lucky to have him. Enjoy!
There are only two other groups that want attention as much as the guitar guy, and even they have more self respect that this dude.
You may find yourself disliked either way, but at least one of the options allows you to find acceptance from one person.
People may be investing in you without you know it, but what's potentially worse is that you won't know why.
It's not only important for helping those that need to rise up, but it's also important for preserving successes.
We need to teach the grind to young people, but what use is the grind if they can't understand it?
Rick Liu is a fellow Cal grad, Bjj practitioner, and badass guy. This one went deep and wide, and we could have spoken for several more hours. Enjoy!
We need to pick one way to view reality, either as a scale or a rigged game. Both can't work.
Christi Madrid is mother of 5 in the SRVUSD, former public school teacher, tutor, and a key part of the recall effort in the district. We spoke at length about managing to keep her kids in school, education in general, Charlotte Wood, and the problems that parents have been and are facing. She was wonderful to speak with. Enjoy!
Angela Goss Plummer is a working professional and single mother of three. Her youngest was one of the many students who was booted from Charlotte Wood Middle School, and Angela went to the Board of Education meeting that evening to let the district know what had happened. After receiving sincere apologies, she largely considered the issue resolved, until she received the district email and met with the administrators on campus. Hearing about how the district treated her should give everyone reason for concern.
This is part #2 of the Charlotte Wood Middle School disaster.
Becky Hill is a mother of two at Charlotte Wood Middle School in Danville. She was one of the few parents that has spoken out against the districts mismanagement of Covid protocols as well as intentional false representation of the events from August 24th. This is not just about protocols. It's about the SRVUSD being able to manipulate the truth and call parents liars with no recourse. I hope you have time to listen.
Kent Wisenor is a Danville native, father of four, dedicated husband, and a great lover of Hawaii. He came in fresh out of back to school night at SRVHS and we immediately got into it. He was so great to speak with. Enjoy!
Although people think we have the worst possible politicians, they're actually the best that have ever existed.
It's terrible trying to defend against someone who knows you so well, but the answer is actually within you.
Jason Pera is the president of the St. Isidore School Foundation, a certified financial planner, and a father of four. He has been engaged in community pursuits since his teens, and hearing about his journey and views on raising young people to support the community was great. Enjoy!
Tony Battilega is the Baseball coach at SRVHS. He is also a teacher and father of two. This is the second time I have had the pleasure of sitting down with him, and he did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with him. Enjoy!
We can choose to be part of someone else's story, but nothing is worse than being forced into the audience.
Nancy Daetz is the head of Academic Boosters at San Ramon Valley High School. She has been the engine driving the fundraising and delivery of additional classes that aren't otherwise covered by our state budget. Plainly put, she's actually keeping our schools great. She was great to speak with. Enjoy!
We hold things randomly accountable for our issues far more frequently than we think. It's no wonder our budgets never work.
Julie Carbonell and Susan Wise are independent college counselors. They raised their combined six children in the SRVUSD and have fantastic perspectives on the struggles that students in this area face. They're fantastic. Enjoy!
www.college-planner.com
cwcollegeplanner@gmail.com
Peter Scarpelli is the Athletic Director at San Ramon Valley High School. He is an avid supporter of sport, a coach, and an enormous advocate for developing young people. It was fantastic to hear how he navigated the last couple years and how he hopes to navigate the future. Enjoy!
Tony Battilega is a teacher and San Ramon Valley HS head baseball coach. He has been an avid baseball fan, player, and coach for over four decades. His insights into the game, its benefits, and leading young men were tremendous. I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated my time with him. Enjoy!
Everyday has an inherent loss, and inherent cost, but some activities cost more than the time in the day.
I certainly don't advise believing you're still 14, but if that's what you think of other people, you better think it of yourself, too.
If you aren't justifying the great cost of your days and actions therein, you may be wasting them.
If I'm being honest, he has always just been concerned for me, but he has always help me back, too.
I have a lot of questions about my character and actions, but at least I know what I'm not doing next time.
Matt Hoffman is a father of two, husband, avid volunteer, and incredible voice for choice in the SRVUSD. He has been relentlessly fighting for more options for our children throughout the pandemic, and it's hard to imagine we would be exactly where we are without his contributions. This was an instant classic. Enjoy!
Kathy Crosthwait is a former principal in the SRVUSD, current 5th grade teacher, and executive board member of SRVEA. She volunteered to be a hybrid teacher as soon as she had the opportunity and has managed to make it through the pandemic with her two teenage children at home and 28 children on zoom. It was wonderful speaking with her. Enjoy!
The world may be shifting towards an upstream learning environment with young people teaching the old about how to live, but the old still have the gold.
You don't have to be a fan of unions in corporations to see the benefit of a tiny union in your daily life.
Ivan Alarcon is a Danville resident, young father, husband, and owns and operates CrossFit ATI in downtown Danville. He somehow kept it together through 2020, and after hearing his story it's no wonder why. He's a good man and I truly enjoyed my time with him. Enjoy!
As with most things, as the number of words goes down, the value theoretically goes up, but that's not how most people see their own speech.
We can't change the standard for judgement whenever it best suits us, or we'll forever be all good or all evil.
We need to stop telling people that when they find their passions it won't feel like work. It's the opposite.
Mike Mitchell is a local business owner and father of three, and he had to move to Idaho for the sake of his children. He highlights the most upsetting and real threat to our young people, and it was wonderful to speak with him and hear his thoughts. Enjoy!
Everyone has two worlds that they occupy, and oddly enough, the one they have complete control over is usually darker than reality.
Do not confuse this with grinding out results. One leads to success, and the other leads to perhaps unintended alternate success, but they are never the same.
Being worthy of serving others might be the most difficult thing to comprehend, but if we can, it will make us all better.
You don't get to reinvent yourself as much as you may think, and you may not even want to.
The ancient wisdom in classic characters is more relevant today than ever, and we all have to decide who we're going to be in the story.
The Horrigan family is an absolute pillar of the community. They recently experienced a horrible loss of their father, Matthew Horrigan, who passed from multiple myeloma. He is survived by his wife, Karen, and his two children, Graham and Paige. A couple of Graham's long term teammates and friends reached out to me to share a GoFundMe for the Horrigan family as Graham is in college and Paige is soon to follow, and instead of just sharing the link on social media, we decided to get together to speak about this incredible family. Please consider listening and perhaps donating if you are able. I can tell you that any cent contributed will be so appreciated. Thank you in advance, and please keep the Horrigans in your prayers.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/bffgj5-horrigan-family-donation-fund?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1
We all think that the worst actions in our communities are perpetrated by individuals, but in reality we're the one's loading the cannon.
Nardine Azab if a certified MFT and has worked in the mental health field for 15 years. She works in acute out patient and has been overwhelmed with the magnitude of the mental health crisis that we're all facing but is especially attacking our youth. She was great. Enjoy!
Erica Hobby is a Danville lifer, realtor, and parent of three. She has been a local business owner for two decades and is a pillar of the community. Her views and heart felt comments on the state of our community need to be considered, and I was so thankful that she made time to come speak with me. Enjoy!
Greg Marvel is the former president of the Board of Education in SRVUSD. He has an in-depth understanding of the process and nuances of a recall vote for the existing board members as well as a clear understanding of the financial implications of our current course. As always, it was very informative. Enjoy!
Kristin Lineberry is a middle school math teacher in the SRVUSD. She has pushed to get small, in person after school classes going again and is a huge advocate for supporting our kids. She's an inspiration. Enjoy!
Carly and Kylie are both juniors at SRVHS and reached out to me because they wanted to speak about their experiences with distance learning, waning friendships, sports, and social media. It was a fantastic conversation and I highly recommend it for anyone curious about what the distance learning experience entails as a lifestyle, not just a learning style. Enjoy!
If we want to compare ability, our in shape selves are clearly superior, but that's not the whole story.
Kathleen DeLaney is a litigator and parent in the SRVUSD who was one of the first to bring the Dec 15th Brown Act violation to the publics attention. She has worked to gain access to behind the scenes information and help the community have a better understanding of how things are being decided, with or without us. She also has very detailed information about the recall efforts for the various board members that I have not heard from anyone else. It was a hugely valuable conversation. Enjoy!
Dr. John Malloy is the superintendent of education in the San Ramon Valley Unified School district. He is charged with an almost impossible task of keeping everyone safe but also keeping education going at the same time. I greatly appreciate his willingness to speak with me. Enjoy!
Michelle Myers is an independent college counselor serving the Bay Area. Her long term personal connections with universities around the country offer her unique insights into the admission system, making her one of the best. We spoke specifically about considerations affecting sophomores and juniors in high school. Enjoy!
Kevin Dickson recently graduated from De La Salle high school in Concord and is a freshman in college in Missouri. He attended his first semester in person but is electing to stay home the second. It was very interesting to hear what college is like for students right now and if the cost of education is justified by the value. Enjoy!
Keilah and Raj are the President and Vice President of the junior class at Las Lomas High School. They're both incredible students and assets to the student body, and it was interesting to hear their perspectives on what is happening and what can be done. Enjoy!
You can't always hit the target, but the pain of the contemplation is worse than the result.
Kelly Lyons is a graduate of San Ramon High School who went on to study at Cal Poly SLO. She is back in the area working as an SDR and is a fantastic example for anyone worrying about recent grads. It was a treat to speak with her. Enjoy!
George Schramm is a high school football coach at Monte Vista High School. He is working with coaches around the state and country to compile data and fight to get student athletes back in their sports. His insights into the data and actual experience of student athletes both in and out of California are very surprising. Please give it a listen.
They may be fake, but they occupy a reality that at least would progress us all forward.
Kevin Kane is a father of two young girls in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. He has become a vocal proponent of returning to school, and once you hear his story, you'll understand his sense of urgency. Enjoy!
Average performance is not associated with success, but when compared to a rockstar moment, average wins every time!
You can't have myths that remove fault from your actions AND the ability to change you plot in life. You have to pick one or the other.
Our reliance on our problem solving capacity just makes more of a mess in our current bad actions. Be blind in the future, and this may change that.
I had to bring out the worst in myself to figure out how to get the best, and you may need to, too.
Why would we have a different egg timer for different aspects of our life when the same urgency is required in all places?
Mark Tarses is the president of the Berkeley Property Owner's Association. He has been a landlord in Berkeley for over 40 years and has never had an eviction. His management style and business philosophies are incredible. Enjoy!
Carly Ross is a Danville native, MTU alum, and sophomore at the USD Honor College. She's a standout individual with a die hard work ethic. It was an honor to sit down with her and see how awesome she is becoming. She is also looking for an internship in business, real estate, or anything, frankly, in the Bay Area or San Diego area for this coming summer. Hook a girl up! Contact below. Enjoy!
Carlyross714@gmail.com
Sacha Feinman is a writer, Jiu Jitsu practitioner and teacher, and is also involved with the Guardian Gym project in Oakland. He's always a pleasure to spend time with. Enjoy!
If you can't separate the distinction between was on fire and AM on fire, you may be losing your way.
What are we if we can choose to to make our lives hard or not? Not all of us will be good examples for those that come after.
Marty is a retiring law enforcement agent, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, legendary MMA fighter, and tremendous individual. Enjoy!
We all self select, and given long enough, we'll believe that the thing we elected to do actually means something about us fundamentally.
You know you've lost your way when you're trying to convince yourself that ice cream shooters in space might actually be cool.
Daniel Ripper is a world champion BJJ fighter, small business owner, father, and life partner. He's the best. Enjoy!
Yes, you're writing your story day by day, but you can actually rewrite your past, too.
We can't just see like a one way street if we want to have any respect in our own positions.
Ralph Barsi is a world class sales coach, husband, father of three, and blue belt in Brazilian JiuJitsu. He has one of the healthiest, most committed when it comes to friends and relationships and differing opinions. He's the best. Enjoy!
In spite of all of the criticism in the world, most people wouldn't even agree with themselves.
Some viruses we might be able to beat, but some that walk around in life we'll never be done with. Stop trying to get rid of them, and you'll start having a better life.
If we remember anything, it's that we don't see or think about the vast majority, and that's the problem.
You shouldn't be focused on just having a goal. The focus should be on keeping your goals in check.
It would be the easiest thing to reference our own lives when we consider someone else, but we can't shift.
Daniel Burkhardt is a Rock Steady boxing coach who specializes in non-contact boxing for those diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He has three gyms in the greater Bay Area and has managed to keep his support of his fighters and the Parkinson's community alive even during covid. He's a bright light in a darker time, and I truly appreciated my time with him. Enjoy!
Rocksteadyboxinggba.com
Books recommendations!
Parkinson’s Disease the art of moving
John Argue
Parkinson’s Regeneration Training
Karl Sterling
A Parkinson’s Primer
John M. Vine
You can let go of your expectations in life, but you may be letting go of more than you bargain for.
Life is a beautiful creation, but don't assume all of the pieces have to be laid down in a certain order.
Leslie Smith is an MMA fighter, labor advocate, and kombucha brewer. She has a career in fighting that spans decades and is transitioning to become collective bargaining advocate. She has always been a voice for the under represented, having traveled to the pipeline protests in the freezing winter to fight big oil and many more. She was wonderful to speak with. Enjoy!
It's hard to imagine us easing back on technology as it improves, but you should take a look at electric razors. They may be the brakes on this whole thing.
Lorraine and Jen are parents in the SRVUSD and also run the Back In School Safely SRVUSD Facebook group. They have been working nonstop to keep the parent involvement high and content on point. It was wonderful to speak with them about what they're going through as parents and concerned adults trying to give our community better. Enjoy!
Jessica Aguirre is an NBC Bay Area news anchor. She is an Emmy award winner for her professional work and mother of two. Her career in journalism and news spans decades, and it was tremendous to speak with her. Enjoy!
The collective actions of thousands is never more obvious than when looking at these, and ants do it, too.
Ann Katzburg is the president of San Ramon Valley Education Association. She has been guiding the teachers through potential strikes and other difficult spots for years and is at the forefront of the conversation with returning to school. It was great speaking with her. Enjoy!
The infinite complexity of modern life may lead you to wanting simplification, but if we simplify things enough, we're like a kite with no string.
Bob Hammer produces Have a Ball foundation and golf tournament. Tiffany Stuart is a premier business owner and leader in employment placement at Dynamic. Ralph Barsi is a world class sales coach in the Bay Area. This went deep. Enjoy!
It's painful to admit, but most improvements in life are completely pointless, and it's your fault.
Laura Bratt is a candidate for Board of Education for SRVUSD. She reached out to me to request a chance to dive into a recent forum response. As always, it was a pleasure. Enjoy!
Scott Roberts is the 6th and final candidate for the SRVUSD Board of Education. He is a long time resident, family man, and commissioner in San Ramon. His insights, experience, and perspective were wonderful to hear. Enjoy!
https://votescottroberts.com
After experiencing enough, I've realized these two are more closely aligned than you think.
There are different stages in life, and one tool box won't address the problems in them all.
I reached out to all Zone 2 candidates for Board of Education after the debates and offered a follow up interview to address specific questions or issues that have come to light. Greg Marvel reached out and took me up on my offer, which still stands for all candidates. It's much shorter and jam packed with direct info and questions. Enjoy!
Shannon Mundelius is a public elementary educator. She's a reading specialist and has great insights into the issues facing the board of education, teachers union, and families. It was a pleasure speaking with her. Enjoy!
Dave Fong is a 41 year Danville resident, husband, father, grandfather, town commissioner, and incredible businessman. He has an incredible endorsement list and after speaking with him, it's clear why. I greatly appreciated my time with, and you will, too. Enjoy!
https://fongfordanvillecouncil.com/about-dave
Wanting to avoid the cold pool doesn't mean you'll be happiest if you do. We have to find the difference.
At some point you'll have to pick one or the other, and at the very least you need to remember that you're the one making the call.
Newell Arnerich is 6 term mayor of Danville and town councilman seeking re-election. He's an architect by trade and long time advocate for Danville and its residents. He spoke at length about things I would have never thought to even ask, and I'm very pleased we got to spend time together. Enjoy!
https://www.arnerich.org
Why anyone would care about a one sided conversation is beyond me, but that's exactly what we all do to ourselves.
Kumar Nallusamy is running for the Board of Education for SRVUSD. He is an enormous advocate for supporting our students, increasing technology in our schools, and bringing an engineering problem solving perspective to the board. He was great to speak with. Enjoy!
https://www.kumarforsrvusd.com
Chris and Brook are teachers in the community, fathers, and husbands. We had a blast talking about an enormous variety of topics. It was a great time. Enjoy!
Turner Stanton is the youngest candidate running for the Danville Town Council. He is a long time resident and has been engaged with the community in one form or another for almost a decade. He has an enormous pride in the town and has a very clear vision of how to come out of our current situation stronger than ever. I enjoyed my time with him. Enjoy!
www.stantonfordanville.com
When you just need a hand, it's infuriating to hear someone ask what you think you could do, but that's what we all need.
I've never liked yoga, but I hate maintenance work even more. The problem is, the maintenance is actually the key.
Priscilla Graft is a mother of three, marketing wiz at Clorox, and enormous advocate for the underrepresented age groups in school. She is running for the Board of Education in SRVUSD and wants to bring a fresh, energetic, boots on the ground perspective to the conversation. She gives a lot to think about. Enjoy!
https://www.vote4graft.com
Renee Morgan is an 8 year vet of the Danville town council, elected in 2012 and mayor in 2016. A 30 year resident, she served on the planning commission in the 8 years before being elected and has raised her two children here. She did a tremendous job of setting me straight on a few issues as well as speaking in-depth about her vision for the future. I greatly appreciate speaking with her. Enjoy!
https://www.reneemorganforcouncil.com
Hunter Hodges is a recent grad from UC Berkeley, a national level rower, and youngest account executive at Tray.io. In the world of excuses and tough employment, this 23 year old crushed. Find out how. Enjoy!
Parent of four in the SRVUSD, Laura Bratt is running for the Board of Education in Zone 3. She has been on school site council at both elementary and middle school for near a decade. She brings an incredible perspective to the conversation. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing her, and you will, too! Enjoy!
www.votelaurabratt.com
It's easy to criticize people who are stuck on their phones. You see them everywhere and it's easy to judge, but would you tell a hunter gatherer to put down his slingshot?
Greg Marvel is a veteran of 20 years on the Board of Education in SRVUSD and 30 years veteran of public education at the executive level. He is the sitting president of the board and seeking re-election this fall. This is an extremely informative episode and shed light on actions that have been outwardly criticized by many in the community. It gives you an enormous amount to think about. Enjoy!
http://www.reelectmarvel.com
You can say a lot about the 80s, but at least you have to give it to them. They had a pair.
Shelley Clark is a candidate for the SRVUSD board. She is a mother of two and has had students in the school district for decades. She has served on almost every committee and board possible as a volunteer and championed efforts on every level of education to improve the educational experience for students as well as teachers. I'm so pleased I got to speak with her. Enjoy!
https://www.shelleyforsrvusd.com
It's not the 30' drop down the waterfall in the kayak that matters. It's getting there that should concern you.
There's a difference between getting to work and finding employment, and if you can't see the difference, you may never get paid.
It's easy to pass the responsibility of inspiration off onto something amazing in the world, but that's not where you should be looking for inspiration.
Nancy Daetz is the head of Academic Boosters at San Ramon Valley High School. She spearheads the efforts to fund almost 20 additional classes annually, which translates into almost 600 students on a daily basis. Funding public schools of this caliber is incredibly complex, and it was great speaking with her and understanding the struggle. Enjoy!
There are many options in the world today, but for somethings, you may just not have a choice.
It's not the matrix, but we are all in the multiverse. As overwhelming as that is, remember. You can make your small slice very, very small.
We think things stuck on the internet are bad, but you should really be looking inward for the real horror.
It's official! The UC system is prohibited from using SAT or ACT in any aspect of their admissions process.
A picture's worth a thousand words, but that's a thousand chances to pick the wrong word.
Mike Mitchell is a local business owner, father of three, and an epic guy. He has been fighting endlessly to keep his business open, and I couldn't appreciate him more for it. Enjoy!
A lot of people might looking forward to a costume party online this fall, but we need to realize that we're already at the party.
There's not a person alive that says impulsiveness is a virtue, but maybe that's a mistake.
Norman Greenbaum's famous Spirit in the Sky was an instant classic, but was a classic then for reasons incomprehensible to those thinking it's a classic now.
You can ask people to not throw things into the fan, and how they respond may tell you quite a lot about who and what they are.
Heather Hooper is a Chief Retirement Officer, Spartan racer, law maker, and an unabashed woman. There are so many takeaways from this one, I couldn't do it justice. Enjoy!
If you hadn't seen this episode, you wouldn't be considering listening to it, but that's a universe away from reality.
Although it may lead to actual death and destruction, it may also lead to death of knowledge.
When all we want is to see authenticity from those around us, we sometimes have to forget that we're not alone.
Adam Schuman is an American musician, business owner, and bad little league coach. He's the kind of guy who orders a Diet Coke and a milk shake from In N Out at the same time. That should say it all. Enjoy!
It may be more tempting to administer justice, but the real holy grail is instilling justice within.
It's always easy to write yourself off in a video game. Sometimes people are just too good, but if you're being honest, that's never set in stone.
Intending to do be someone shouldn't get you anywhere, but for most, it's almost as good as action.
We've all been told that the world isn't fair, but it's possible that this is just an inability to actually explain what it is.
You think this can happen in only one direction, but like most things, you may be surprised when you have the paradigm wrong.
Sue is a public school teacher of 22 years. She teaches core and has been on the front lines of education as we have gone through educational insanity. Very little is known about what public school teachers actually went through in the past 4 months, and I was very thankful for the opportunity to speak with her. Enjoy!
In the absence of photography, it's almost impossible to see someone grow over time. Why would small steps towards greater ends be any different?
You can ruin a lot of your perception of others by too deeply considering motivations, but if you really want to muddy the water, start wondering whys in your own actions.
Unless an audio recording is just a recording of a live stream, you aren't actually listening to something real. It's more like the Borg of music. Well, same goes for thoughts.
Dale Schroeder is a senior financial advisor at Wells Fargo, an avid cross fitter, novice surfer, and great dad. His propensity to continue reinventing life while simultaneously keeping core values and perspective is amazing. Enjoy!
Dante Barsi is an American beats artist. He is incredibly prolific and collaborated with artists all over the USA to produce his first album, Top Shelf, available on Spotify and Apple Music. He reminds me what real passion is. Enjoy!
Although tech has amplified all of our voices, it's worth considering who is turning up the volume.
How easy it would be to value and assess people and ourselves as on or off. But, like many things, that's impossible.
Skipping homework may seem like a fair trade when the alternative is the beach, but in reality, you make be making a much worse bargain than that.
Dessira and Jyll are the two fashion designers behind the Six Feet Bitch brand and apparel. They are both career business women and entrepreneurs, and it was beyond a blast speaking with them. Enjoy!
In a world of just compensation and living wages, why do we put such a high value on no pay positions?
You never want the least of your peers to be left behind, but why do we willingly diminish ourselves with role models?
Before you reach for a duller knife, you may want to consider a bandaid and a grinding stone instead.
Vasili Nikolaev is an enterprise sales rep, bjj purple belt, and SF city dweller. He's the best. Enjoy!
There is a lot to be said for the pain up pushing a rock, but that knife cuts both ways.
Marty is a law enforcement office, Jiu Jitsu black belt, and the most well read and philosophical person I've ever met. This was an incredibly challenging conversation, and I couldn't be more thankful. Enjoy!
They may have to sniff a lot of unpleasant things, but they get to the bottom of things that we would never dare.
The next time you look back and realize you could have done it better, you might want to pat yourself on the shoulder.
It took 26 years and a conversation to tip me over the edge, but maybe comments will be able to help you get to the other side faster.
It's tempting to engage in specific forms of education, but be careful not to be arrogant with your own growth.
It's hard to understand two more polar opposite ideas of human nature, in the United States, at least.
Who really thinks that goofy overalls you wear affect things overall in your life? Well, most people, in fact.
Mike Paris is a medical sales professional, husband to Kaiser physician, De La Salle Alumnus, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu purple belt. I really hope I get to do this again with him.
When the sweetness of a plum grips you like the thermodynamic design of a pool, you know you may have a problem.
If you think this one will be different from the past shows, you're doing exactly what I just talked about.
Kevin Dickson is a recent De La Salle high school graduate. He's a Matt Todd University legend and De La Salle icon. It's hard to explain how much he will be missed when he leaves for college. Enjoy!
As frustrating as it may seem, you can win and lose at the exact same time in a field greater than 1.
When playing a game comes in sharp contrast to defending Gondor, how do you die in a way that seems best?
When your days look like an endless buffet of incredible food, you'll likely go home hungry, too.
Erica Hobby is a mother of three, community guru, and principal at Hobby and Associates real estate brokerage here in Danville. Two hours flew by. Enjoy!
It's a tough trade for some, giving up your physical body for achievement and experience, but it may not be the cut at dry.
Who would have thought that a swimming pool cover could expose our willingness to have closeness with others?
Cecil the lion and mount Diablo are actually intimately related, but only in their imperfect nature.
There are few things that are harder to explain than loving your bjj pod, but there's at least one big one.
Ralph Barsi is a world renowned sales development coach as well as father of three. He's truly one of a kind. Enjoy!
https://ralphbarsi.com
Twitter @rbarsi
Irons in the fire used to mean something real, and not it's more of a funny piece of legacy wisdom. At least one old saying, however, is making a comeback.
The ACT has no officially canceled the June ACT, but for most CA residents planning to take it in CA, the test is effectively done. Here is what you should know.
You can't see a picture of sushi on social media without considering your pathetic PB&J, but that's not all you should consider.
Everyone wants to see the view from the mountain top, but does your journey to the top negate someone else's?
Michelle Myers is an independent college counselor as well as a mother of a Cal Poly student. She had fantastic advice and insights into the problems everyone is facing. Please note: this was recorded the day prior to the UC system vote on the SAT. At the time of the interview, SATs were still required. Enjoy!
Jeff Hubins is an employment attorney and has been representing minorities and abused employees for decades. His take on the current situation was fantastic. Enjoy!
The UC system voted to eliminate the SAT requirement for applications. As a Mexican American, I'm embarrassed.
The president of the UC system has officially said that the campuses will stay open for the coming fall term. Open to what and for whom, however, now appears to be the major question.
Historically we have pushed to improve our manipulation of the physical world, but now the power lies in 1s and 0s.
It's easy to be envious of successful people, but you would likely think twice if you freaked out over a game of Monopoly.
Something as small as a lego bin may actually change the course of your actions, and if you don't see that, you may be missing things far larger and more impactful than just Legos.
In an age of virtual meetings and classrooms, for what reason would I possibly still be wearing cologne? At least one person knows why, and that person is Evan.
Even though all activities in life may be a distraction from the inevitable truth we all must face, not all distractions are created equally.
Alex Stevenson is the head of the English Department at De La Salle High School in Concord. She's a 22 year veteran of teaching and brings incredible insights into how to engage young people, especially young men, with the written word. This will absolutely be the first of many.
The president of the UC system recently proposed eliminating the SAT completely from admissions, and as an SAT tutor, I'm the only one this would benefit.
There are only two types of people: those that hate instruction manuals and those that don't. Thinking this way may have skewed my children's life views for the worse.
If you could clearly convey what you're thinking to someone else instantaneously, would you really be happy with the result?
Lillian Dickson is the Director of Academics at De La Salle High School in Concord as well as a private Math tutor. Beloved by the community, she holds it all together for the school, her students, and her three children during this unprecedented time. It was an honor.
All tutoring inquiries to: Lillian.dickson@gmail.com
We've all seen participation awards and roundly criticized them. In reality, who should be celebrated for participating? But what if they are like appetizers, not quite enough to get you anywhere but just enough to get you hungry?
If you could warn your younger self about life, would the advice be the same thing your future self would warn you about right now?
How is the fundamental idea of competition for athletic pursuits so lost when it comes to our brains?
The third brother in a family of power houses, Luke is a true student athlete. Going into his junior year at Cal, he's a world class rugby player and scholar, and a former MTU alum. Enjoy!
You can argue easily for a job in the trades or the value of an engineering degree, but how do you qualify the value of a more nebulous course of action?
My son is worried about his closet door staying open 6" at night, and I can't really blame him.
Scientist and water engineer, PhD. Erin Mackey zooms in and talks about coming up in STEM and making it in a core field of environmental concern.
Education is surely wasted on the young, but that's only because you don't have the time to go back. Well, time is here.
Schools everywhere are struggling to honorably grade students on effort and performance, but most are retreating to P/F. As bad as it sounds, it could be worse.
Worked hard for four years to get into your dream school? Well, what if that dream school is turning into not so dreamy YouTube videos and 40 person Zoom meetings. Is there a way around this?
Should I be upset that we aren't losing sleep over the WWE anymore? Only if I'm looking one direction in time.
The hat making you late is the same as the last touchdown being the game winning touchdown. They're both lies.
When the earth starts shaking, do you imagine yourself reaching for a can of ginger beer?
It might seem great to be popular, but for some, popular has always been unappealing. This now has more than just minor implications.
An internal medicine resident on the ground floor of the Covid-19 epidemic, Dr. Kenny Veiga discuses the issues hospitals are facing, the challenges with treating the novel virus, and why WWE is such great theater.
What are things that can be done right now to help my application? With classes canceled, is there a way I can keep pushing myself academically? Is this timeframe even going to matter for colleges?
With students sitting around, is it a good idea to get on college entrance essays now? What is the common app essay? If I don't know how to get started, what do I do? Is there a basic structure that I can follow?
What is happening with the SAT and ACT entrance exams? Will they be offered in the summer? Will we get a testing location? How will they even administer them?
UPDATE: 4/17/20 CSUs terminate testing requirement!
Are colleges making the SAT/ACT tests optional for admissions this coming year? Is that a good thing for students? Should people take the test, even if it is optional? Is this going to be a forever change??
Here, second grader, get these packets done and just return them to me when you're finished. I'll be over there in the other room behind a locked door on a conference call. The coffee maker is over there. Good luck!
Be careful how you judge the person serving you a footlong. The whole experience might rot your insides 20 years from now.
You may think it's always important to be positive and gracious, but it may be the end of your audience.
A Danville icon and pillar of the community, Ruggie VanMuijen kindly sat down and talked about his beginnings, his mistakes, his successes, and his ongoing efforts to keep his employees working and people fed. If you enjoy the episode and the cause, please consider donating.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/growler-meals-4-covid19-relief?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link-tip&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet
There are plenty of reasons to think poorly of us pathetic millennials, but before you write us and our avocado toast off completely, consider this fine point.
When you buy a new car and think all of a sudden that everyone else has the exact same car, it's not you thinking. It's the ghost in the backseat.
There are some things in language that may be lost for ever, but don't worry. We may be finding things unthinkable as well.
There have always been untouchable topics in the world. Somethings are just best left out of polite dinner conversation, but don't you dare try to hug it out.
The number one question of every parent of a teenager: Why won't my kid listen to me? Well, they have to pick you, first.
A pipeline sales guru and upcoming super star, Vasili Nikolaev zooms into the studio from lock down in SF. It's an absolute blessing to have him around. Part one of many. Enjoy!
You'll never understand the mechs these girls are piloting unless you look and listen closely.
Have you ever criticized someone for getting up early and waiting in line for preschool registration? No, and you shouldn't start now, either.
The engineer we all owe our selfies to, Jeff Mackey takes a seat at MTU studios and talks about his path from a B/C student in high school to sitting at the cutting edge of tech. We're all lucky he shares his gifts professionally and exceedingly lucky he shared his time. Enjoy!
If video games are all kids want to do, why is everyone unhappy being stuck at home with video games?
There's a reason diets exist. Everybody knows how to get what they want, but they don't want to stop doing what they want to do.
Can you really tell me unicorns and mermaids aren't real if everyone knows what unicorns and mermaids are?
We've all made them. We've all heard them, but why is it that for some people, we'll never let them forget them?
An interview with three time olympian, world class iron man triathlete, and D-1 rowing coach Scott Frandsen.
Hard times do not make character, teach virtue, or develop strength of will. If you're waiting to become a better person right now, stop waiting.
Although lego ninjas and Michael J Fox maybe idolized at this point, do you really want to go back to the future?
We're all selfish characters and for good reason. You need to look out for you, but for which you? The you today, the you tomorrow, or the you in 6 months, because they may not all have the same selfish ends...
Guilty as charged. I do indeed teach to the test, but which test exactly are you talking about?
A world class sales development guru, Ralph Barsi sat down with me and hashed out how he went from almost getting expelled from St. Mary's College to world leader in his field. He's a true black belt in life.
This generation is viewed as the softest in human history, but if they're snowflakes, they're make out of cold pressed steel.
A world class salesman, business owner, and Danville native, Mike Mitchell of Danville Jiu Jitsu sits down and talks about his beginnings at Green Valley Elementary, Monte Vista High School, and how his path lead him back to Danville as a pillar of the community. He's one of a kind.
We're pathetically weak in the face of real nature, but that's not without it's benefits.
I know people say you shouldn't quit when you fail, but for real. When DO you get to quit?!!!!!!!
Matt sits down with his good friend Jeff, who happens to have the most amazing, winding path that has lead him to running the number 1 law firm in town. Success comes at you from many angles. Enjoy!