A Texan Abroad: Recent Episodes
Bill McMains
(1) What are the major differences between life as an expat and life in the States? (2) What are the biggest benefits of being back home/living in the US?(3) What are the biggest drawbacks of being back home/living in the US?(4) Do you think your time spent living abroad has helped you in your transition back to the States, and if so, how?(5) Would you ever consider living abroad again, and if so, where would you consider (or not consider) living?(6) Do you think it’s better to raise a child in the US or someplace else and why do you think so? (7) How would your evaluate your own, and the people around you’s, work-life balance and overall level of happiness in the US? (8) What’s your opinion of the US economy generally, and your situation specifically? (9) What’s your opinion about the level of polarization in the US right now and do you think it is as divided as many say it is? (10) What does the term “American Dream” mean to you and do you think it’s still alive/possible to achieve?
(1) A writer (2) A feeler (3) A thinker (4) A conversationalist (5) A problem solver (6) An American (7) A Texan (8) A teacher (9) A coach (10) An optimist
It is a human urge to classify, group and distinguish, but there are far more thing that we share, namely the experiences and emotions that fill each our days, and it’s high time we looked at our neighbors as more similar than different.
We all, each and every person out there, has it in us to control the person that we are and the life that we lead. The first step in that arduously amazing process is to stop pointing the finger at other’s and start looking in the mirror to understand where that control lies.
Solutions to life’s ailments are rarely found on the extremities of viewpoints, but more commonly in that magically reasonable Goldilocks zone. Yet somehow we continue to accept the irrational ranting of the polar opposites as the norm, and this must change.
The hardest thing you’ll ever do is admitting when you’re wrong, but only slightly less difficult is taking the first step, and that is stepping out of your echo chamber, abandoning your confirmation bias and opening your mind to the possibility that you’ve made a mistake. As painful as it may be, it’s what we owe to ourselves and to humanity in order to move forward.
We all need to stop finding offense in opinions that differ, summon that inner elephant-like exterior and get busy with the most important of responsibilities that we have to one another, and to humanity, solving problems through uncomfortable yet cordial discourse.
Stop thinking so much just about yourself, what you need/want, and remember you are part of something bigger, grander and more complex. Go through life appreciating and acknowledging the beauty and horror of what it means to be human, and act with thoughtful compassion.
Starting a new series of 10 podcasts on the flaws in people (myself included) & society that make my blood boil! Don’t worry, Bob and the gang will be back in January to calm me down, but until then…buckle up!
(1) My Apologies (2) Where I’ve Been (3) Building My Snowflake (4) Words of Wisdom from a Hoops Coach (5) Attribution Error (6) No Guarantees (7) Do What You Love (8) 60 in 90 Days (9) Tattoos & Andy Dufresne (10) Finding the Courage
(1) What made you decide to move abroad in the first place? (2) Where all have you lived (and traveled)? (3) What are the biggest pros for living abroad? (4) What are the biggst cons for living abroad? (5) How has living abroad affected how you think about life? (6) How has living abroad affterd how you think about work? (7) Would you recommend living abroad to others who have never done it? (8) What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about moving abroad? (9) Where would you like to live next? (10) Do you see yourself moving back home in the future?
(1) What was your reaction to Trump being banned on social media? (2) If you were in charge of a plaltform, how would you have handled Trump? (3) Does a private platform have the right to silence whoever they want? (4) Who should determine what does/doesn’t go on a social media? (5) Are social media platforms public utilities? (6) Is there a difference between freedom of speech and freedom from consequences? (7) Should companies monitor what their employees say or do on social media? (8) Should schools be allowed to consider a potential student’s social media during the admissions process? (9) What do you think is the best way to regulate social media content? (10) What do you think the future of social media content regulation will look like?
(1) What will be the fall out from the madness in D.C. this week? (2) What will come from the first calendar year of a Democratic government? (3) Will there be more or less polarization in the USA and across the world? (4) How well will vaccine roll outs go? (5) What else will happen with COVID? (6) What will travel look like in 2021? (7) What will work look like in 2021? (8) Will economies recover quickly, slowly or worsen? (9) What advances in tech will we see? (10) What is one bold prediction you have for 2021?
(1) Where do we stand? (2) What do we think will happen? (3) Why were the predictions so off? (4) What has gone right/wrong? (5) What lessons should we take from the election so far?
(1) Why is voting so important? (2) Should voting be easier? (3) Who should be allowed to vote? (4) What other changes to voting should be made? (5) Who do you think will win the US Presidential election?
(1) Do you think of yourself as patriotic? (2) What does being patriotic mean? (3) Why do you believe in the US? (4) What problems is the US facing? (5) How can the US move forward?
(1) Should the US continue to reduce it’s international role? (2) What are the pros/cons of a more isolationist policy? (3) What are the pros/cons for a more active role abroad? (4) Do other countries want an active US role? (5) What should the US role abroad look like?
(1) Does the US spend too much on the military? (2) Does the US need such a military presence around the world? (3) Should the US military use drones, immoral interrogation techniques & assassinations? (4) How much oversight Should there be on the military? (5) How do we end & prevent “forever wars”?
(1) What is globalization? (2) Is globalization a bad thing? (3) What are the good (and bad) things about globalization? (4) How can we encourage (and improve) it? (5) Will the pandemic kill globalization?
(1) Is immigration a problem? (2) What are the negative aspects of open immigration? (3) What are the positive aspects of open immigration? (4) How do we strike a balance? (5) Should the world have open borders?
(1) Should we take notice of and start doing something about climate change? (2) What kinds of things should we start doing? (3) Why haven’t we done more already? (4) How do we really effectuate change? (5) What other areas do we need to worry about?
(1) Should we transition away from oil? (2) Can we transition away from oil? (3) Should we focus on renewables? (4) Should we abandon nuclear power? (5) How do we ensure that we’re staying focused on the long-term goal?
(1) Has technology been a net positive? (2) What are the drawbacks to scientific discovery? (3) How do we regulate and manage technological progress? (4) How do we foster the next generation of discovery? (5) What areas should we be focusing on?
(1) Is a college degree needed? (2) What are the valuable aspects of college? (3) Is college worth the cost? (4) Should college be free? (5) What changes should be made to college?
(1) Why is education so important? (2) What are the biggest issues with regards to education? (3) How do we revamp the structure of education? (4) How do we revamp the content of education? (5) How do we support, keep & improve our teachers?
(1) Where do rights come from? (2) Why has there been an explosion of rights in modern times? (3) What restrictions or regulations of our rights should we allow? (4) Do we have the right to bear arms? (5) Why has gun regulation not been implemented?
(1) How do we decrease crime? (2) What are the biggest problems with the criminal justice system? (3) Are punishments, including the death penalty, effective? (4) Should we reform the prison system? (5) How can we help former convicts stay out of prison?
(1) Should marijuana be legalized? (2) What should be done about harder drugs? (3) How can we help people who are addicted? (4) How do we solve the prescription drug crisis? (5) How can we address mental illness?
(1) Does everyone deserve access to quality healthcare? (2) What are the issues with government-provided healthcare? (3) What are the issues with private healthcare? (4) What are some other issues related to healthcare? (5) How can we solve these issues?
(1) What is UBI? (2) Why should the Left support it? (3) Why should the Right support it? (4) Why do you support it? (5) How could we pay for it?
(1) Should there be a higher minimum wage? (2) Should the government require other employee benefits? (3) Are unions a good thing? (4) Should there be a jobs guarantee? (5) What should we do about the current unemployment crisis?
(1) Where should government spending go? (2) Should the wealthy be taxed more? (3) Should wealth itself be taxed? (4) Should corporate tax be higher? (5) How do we get more people to pay their fair share?
(1) How involved in the economy should government be? (2) What mechanisms can/should the government use to effect the economy? (3) How much regulation is good for the economy? (4) How much credit/blame should be given to a government for the economy? (5) How should governments be helping in the current crisis?
(1) Are big tech companies monopolies? (2) Should big tech be regulated or broken up? (3) Why has data become such a heated issue? (4) What are the issues with social media? (5) How do we solve these tech-related problems?
(1) What is Cancel Culture? (2) Where did it come from? (3) What are the dangers of it? (4) Does shaming work? (5) How do we strike a balance?
(1) What is racism/prejudice? (2) Is the USA a racist (or hate-filled) country? (3) Is there systemic racism (or prejudice) in the USA? (4) How can we combat prejudice (and hate)? (5) How can we fix the system?
(1) Are police officers racially biased against minorities? (2) Should we defund the police? (3) How should police handle protests & protesters? (4) Are the protests doing more harm than good? (5) How can we get these two sides to come together?
(1) Should we have seen this coming? (2) What could people (and leaders) have done differently/better? (3) Why/how has a pandemic become so political? (4) Did the pandemic create a division or shins a light on one? (5) What can people (and leaders) do moving forward?
(1) How much power does the court have? (2) How much power should the court have? (3) Should there be an age limit for justices? (4) Is the court political? (5) What changes to the court should be made?
(1) Is the constitution sacrosanct? (2) Do the checks and balances work? (3) Is it better to protect against tyranny or allow a chance for more governance? (4) Do the 50 experiments in democracy work? (5) Is smaller or bigger government better?
(1) What is your opinion of politicians? (2) What makes a good politician? (3) Is being a politician difficult? (4) What challenges do politicians face? (5) Should politics be a career?
(1) Why do they make sense? (2) Why don’t they make sense? (3) Why is everything so partisan? (4) How can we fix it? (5) What party are you?
(1) What is leadership? (2) What qualities should a leader have? (3) Are leaders born or bred? (4) What’s the current state of leadership? (5) How can we do better?
(1) What will I be doing for the next 30 podcasts? (2) What is political discourse? (3) Why is it so important? (4) Why is it so difficult? (5) How do we do/have it?
(1) Hyperloop (2) Driverless Cars & Mass Transit (3) Flying Cars (4) Solar Powered Planes (5) Space Tourism (6) Moon Colonization (7) Nuclear Fusion (8) Holographic Technology (9) Neuralink (10) Artificial Intelligence
(1) What started your fascination with the former Soviet republics and how has it grown over the years? (2) Since you’ve been to all of them, which one was your favorite, and do you have a least favorite? (3) Is there a country, area or city that most people haven’t heard of that just blew you away? (4) What about the cuisines in all of these places, did you find a hidden gem or any strange tastes? (5) Would you say the cultures of these places are vastly different or have some similarities? (6) Do you think learning about the history of these places is more interesting than visiting them? (7) Which of these countries has a unique history, period or moment that surprised you? (8) How did being part of one country for 70 years affect these places, and was it positive or negative for most? (9) Have these countries handled the last 30 years in similar or different ways and do they miss the Soviet period? (10) What’s the next aspect of your exploration into the culture and geography of this area of the world?
(1) I’m sorry (but I’m not sorry) (2) Two things I hate about America (3) It’s not worse (but we still have a ways to go) (4) The unattainable ideal (that strengthens us) (5) The police are a problem (but it’s complicated) (6) Politics is a bigger problem (and it’s even more complicated) (7) School are the biggest problem (and companies can help) (8) The best place to live (and the worst) (9) Poverty isn’t racist (or sexist or prejudiced in any way) (10) What does change look like (and how do we get there)
(1) What’s the best (and worst) thing about being a teacher? (2) What’s the best (and worst) thing about Moscow?(3) What’s the best (and worst) food found commonly in Russia? (4) What’s the best (and worst) country or place to visit outside the US? (5) What’s the best (and worst) city in the USA to visit? (6) What’s the best (and worst) city in the USA to live in? (7) What’s the best (and worst) American food? (8) What’s the best (and worst) sports team from the USA? (9) What’s the best (and worst) TV series during and outside of a quarantine? (10) What’s the best (and worst) alcoholic drink? (11) What’s the best (and worst) Jeff Exotic/Craftfather story you have?
(1) How’s life back stateside after being an expat for so long? (2) Did it take any time to readjust & is there anything strange or unexpected about being home? (3) What, if anything, do you miss about Moscow & expat life? (4) What’s quarantine life like in Chicago? (5) Are you missing sports as much as me? (6) How was it watching your team win the Super Bowl & was it the best win of your sports fandom? (7) What are the best sports to be a fan of & why? (8) What makes a good (and bad) sports fan? (9) Describe the sports fan that is the Craftfather (aka Patrick)? (10) Give me your sports fan bucket list, top 5.
(1) What’s the situation/lockdown like in London/Moscow? (2) What is your lockdown/quarantine life like? (3) What do you miss most about pre-lockdown life? (4) What have you, predictably or unexpectedly, liked about your new way of living? (5) How much & what kind of news are you consuming, and how would you characterize the media coverage of the pandemic? (6) How serious is the situation/virus and are governments over, under or properly reacting? (7) How can/should the government balance the seriousness of the virus and the economic devastation? (8) How do you think the ultimate opening up will look, what’s vital to it’s success & when do you see it happening? (9) What do you think are, if any, the long-term implications of the pandemic? (10) When do you think life will have some resemblance to what it was pre-COVID 19?
(1) How would you describe the current state of American politics? (2) How would you describe your political stances on social and economic issues? (3) What are currently the most important issues to you, as an American voter? (4) What qualities do you think are most important in a President? (5) What convinced you to vote for Bernie Sanders in the primary? (6) Do you think that Bernie can beat Trump in a general election? (7) Should Democrats be more concerned with electability or the issues? (8) What do you think of the electoral system used in the USA? (9) What changes would you make, if any, to the way we elect the President? (10) What’s your prediction for the elections this year?
Pregame: Astros retort (1) What is Craftfather? (2) What's the goal or mission of Craftfather? (3) What's the biggest difference in US/Russian bar culture? (4) How does service in US/Russia differ at bars? (5) What do you look for in a craft bar? (6) What turns you off about a craft bar? (7) What are your favorite craft bars in Moscow? (8) What is the future of craft bars? (9) What makes a great craft beer? (10) What is the future of craft beer? Instagram: https://instagram.com/craftfather_moscow?igshid=1pf73i1qaid08
(1) What happened? (2) When did people find out? (3) Who was punished and how? (4) Why does it matter then? (5) Did they affect the outcome? (6) Did they cross a line? (7) Are you surpised at what they did? (8) Aren’t sports just a form of entertainment? (9) So why is everyone so upset? (10) A few final thoughts
(1) Remember yesterday, think about tomorrow but live for today (2) Laugh often, especially at yourself (3) Cherish your loved ones (4) Your dreams are your own, make them a reality (5) Yours is the opinion that matters most (6) Keep an open mind, trying never to judge (7) Experience all this world has to offer (8) Try to solve problems, not create new ones (9) Find out what you believe in (10) Fight for the things worth fighting for (11) How you treat the world is how the world will treat you (12) Changing another’s life will change yours forever (13) Work hard to be the best person you can
In this episode (1) Reminds people to be thankful (2) Get to spend time with loved ones (3) And argue about all kinds of things, great and small (4) Puts people in the giving spirit (5) Don’t just give to people we know (6) People are generally more jovial (7) A very full social calendar (8) And an even fuller stomach (9) Feel like there is a new beginning, full of promise (10) Get to visit my favorite place on
In this episode (1) What was the result of your Movember campaign? (2) What did you get out of Movember? (3) Do you think it was worth it? (4) What would you have done differently? (5) Will you do it again next year? (6) Will you add anything to next year’s campaign? (7) Why do you do this every year? (8) Would you recommend this to others? (9) What’s your opinion of this charity/cause? (10) What’s next now that Movember is over?
In this episode (1) How does attitude affect health? (2) What kinds of things affect your attitude? (3) What are some common sources of stress? (4) What happens when stress builds up? (5) How do you handle stress? (6) Can you do something to reduce stress? (7) How do you relax? (8) Have you ever tried meditation? (9) How does appreciation play a role? (10) Is it possible to change your attitude?
In this episode (1) What is mental health? (2) Why is it important, especially for men? (3) What are the keys to good mental health? (4) How’s your mental health? (5) How do you keep a positive attitude? (6) Have you ever been depressed? (7) Have you ever seen a psychologist or psychiatrist? (8) Do you think psychologists can help? (9) What causes poor mental health? (10) Why don't men often get help?
(1) What is personalized health? (2) Why is this idea important? (3) Where did you get this idea from? (4) Do I need the help of any professionals to do this? (5) What parts can be personalized? (6) How do I get started? (7) How do I track my progress and measure my results? (8) Do I need to be constantly updating my goals? (9) How have you personalized your health? (10) Have you received the results you hoped for?
This episode (1) What do you think of health fads? (2) How do you know what to trust? (3) What's the worst health idea/tip out there? (4) What's the best health tip/idea out there? (5) What is Balance? (6) How does that apply to health? (7) Isnt finding balance a little vague to be a good strategy? (8) Isn't finding balance easier said than done? (9) Is your life balanced? (10) Is balance the same for everyone? [Please share, rate & review!]
This episode (1) What is Movember? (2) Why is it important? (3) What am I doing to help? (4) What are my goals for Movember? (5) How can you help? (6) What are the different aspects of health? (7) What does it mean to be healthy? (8) Am I healthy? (9) Why do we need to ask that question? (10) How is men's health different?
This is just an introductory episode letting you know who I am, what I'm doing and how I'm doing it. My format each week will have me (and often a guest) answering 10 questions. This episode (1) Who am I? (2) Why am I doing a podcast? (3) What will be on the podcast? (4) What will the format be? (5) How long will the episodes be? (6) How often will I be doing episodes? (7) What are my goals for this podcast? (8) Why should you listen? (9) How can you help or interact? (10) What's next?