In this conversation, we are building on a small section Jordan had said during the podcast with Saint Ripley. The clip can be summed as creating with a purpose, or anything that can be consumed should make others think. We expand on this thought by giving examples of content in TV shows and movies that have been done right to capture our attention.

John Tenuto is a Sociology professor at the College of Lake County, IL, with over 25 years of teaching experience. He has given dozens of public presentations and media interviews on the sociology of the "Star Trek" film and television shows. Professor Tenuto has appeared on the Netflix series "The Toys That Made Us" for the Star Wars and Star Trek episodes. In this conversation, we talk about John's interest in pop culture and how it shaped his lens of the world. Next, we dive deeper into John's interest in Star Trek. His research now takes him on the path to understanding and highlighting those who helped make the show what it was. We close with how he views teaching and what he does for his students. Again, his caring and authenticity in the role of a teacher come through.

What better way to celebrate American Independence than with a discussion about Freedom? Grab a six-pack and celebrate with us!

Ben Kapolnek shares the unfiltered story of his ongoing struggle with anxiety, depression, and trauma. From early childhood, he has tried to paint a picture of his thoughts. Ben's story is emotional, not only because he's one of my closest friends, but for every person like Ben, countless others share in this mental anguish. We hope that as we share more stories like this, we can begin a healing process for more and more people. For those who don't understand what it's like to have an invisible battle in your head. As a way to work this muscle, when you pass someone on the street, please take a moment and reflect on the fact that they are battling something that you know nothing about.

In this episode, Dante returns, giving us an update on what has happened since the last time he was on the show. Dante has started his first semester back in school and is pursuing a degree in radiology and an acting class. On the other side, Dante has been looking inwards and talking to a therapist. Dante shares his experiences with discrimination from both sides. Jordan also shares his thought on this challenging subject. They have had to be cultural chameleons able to morph into the representations of both the broader American culture and the African American cultural expectations.

In this episode, our guest is Rachel Thomas. Rachel shares her story about a former boyfriend named Tyler who became a heroin addict in high school had a downward spiral into homelessness and prison. Rachel shares how the story has evolved and dealt with it over the last ten years. Tyler was found by Chicago based photojournalist Chuck Jines who captured some of Tyler's (who went by the street name Shaggy) experiences during homelessness that fills in the gaps from what Rachel share with us. I highly recommended you check them out, but viewer discretion is advised.

In this episode, we are joined by Jordan Criss and Alex Ivy. Jordan Criss is a Chicago Musician and Writer. Alex Ivy is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago for Fashion Business. She has recently started an internship for a partnership agency called Shuffle Presents, focusing on Fashion Events. In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss the role of social media, influencers, and sourcing your information. Other topics include the Liam Neeson Controversy, Jack Dorsey on JRE, and more.

In this episode, we are joined by Courtney Batio. Courtney is a multidisciplinary director/designer for the performing arts, now based in Chicago. The last three and a half years of her work have taken place in London, England, working with set design, costume design, film, art exhibit/curation, and performance directing. In this wide-ranging conversation, we cover what Art means to her and how she found it as a passion. We also include many tactical things that others can try to help build better routines since she has come back from London and can start fresh and create new habits.

In this episode, we are joined by frequent guest Jordan Criss. Jordan is a local artist and now a writer in training. In our first conversation for 2019, we talked a bit about sports, traveling, and different books we’ve been reading. Spoiler warning we discuss a bit about Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. While we try to stay away from describing specific things just an obligatory warning. Jordan also shares more of his interest in screenwriting.

In this episode of the podcast, we have Joseph Spangler. Joseph is a massive fan of all things films and currently co-runs (along with his very awesome friend Alex) a film discussion Youtube channel named TicketStubs. This love of film ties in perfectly with another of Joseph’s interests: superheroes. Superhero franchises are undoubtedly more popular than ever, and he loves every second of it. One of his proudest accolades as a film and superhero fan is seeing Captain America: The Winter Soldier (his favorite MCU film)... 7 times in theaters.

Bill Waterstreet is a Marine Corps veteran and current student at the University of Michigan. He served four years in the Corps, primarily in public affairs and information operations, including a deployment to Afghanistan. He left the military in 2015 as a sergeant. He began classes at U of M. He is studying mechanical and electrical engineering and is currently the President of the Student Veterans of America - UM Ann Arbor chapter. He's originally from Troy, MI.

In this episode of the podcast, we are joined by Jordan Criss. Jordan is a Chicago-based rapper and fitness enthusiast. In addition, he's a professional when it comes to fantasy football. In this wide-ranging conversation, we cover many topics. We start with stories of Jordan's time at Western Illinois University. Next, we discuss passion and what jobs mean to people. Finally, we cap off by talking about being there for other people. Finally, we summarize a podcast with the story of Kevin Hines, who jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge and survived. Kevin's life is a story from Hell to Hope. I don't do the story any justice, and it should be listened to and shared with as many people as possible. Find it at this link.

In this episode of the podcast, we have Dante Brooks. Dante is another one of my high school friends. We talk about his experiences in the military as a marine and what it's like for him to become a Dad. I have nothing but respect for Dante. He put being a dad as his most important job, and it shows in the way acts and talks about it. Finally, we talk about what about drives him forward at this stage of his life.

In this episode of the podcast, we have Jonny Michael. Jonny has served in the Army. After his service in the military, he chose to continue wearing a uniform as a police officer. We get into why he has chosen this path and the tools used to stay in shape. He mentions many times that everything is a process.

The guys discuss addiction, anxiety, and depression in this podcast episode. The topics we discussed are complex, and we barely scratch their surface. None of us are trained in this area, and we don't pretend to be, so anything we say is just talking through a complex topic. We want to find better solutions for these situations. Lastly, I'd like to thank Ben for articulating his anxiety experiences in such a concise way.

First-time guest Jordan Criss joins Erich and Joe. This conversation started with whether a well-known public person can be separated from their work and that person's character. Next, we meander to other topics on life and how Joe found his interest in deep philosophy. Finally, we close out with some books and podcasts.

In this episode, Joe and Erich have a conversation starting with Yuval Noah Harari. Next, the conversation branched into recent philosophy topics Joe has been working with. Finally, we transitioned into a more general discussion on the future's direction and other related ideas.