Brooklyn Born & Kingdom Raised: Mista Yu's Journey

Mista Yu shares his journey from Brooklyn roots to becoming a podcaster, author, and ordained minister, revealing how near-death experiences and a search for purpose shaped his path.

• Born in Brooklyn to a hardworking mother from the Virgin Islands and grandmother from Panama who instilled strong work ethics
• Started podcasting during the pandemic when writing no longer provided emotional release from the constant negative news cycle
• Survived an armed robbery with a gun pointed at his face, reinforcing his belief in having a greater purpose
• Believes purpose isn't found in a single job but in what fulfills you even on difficult days
• Developed a passion for cooking after seeing how food unites people across cultural and political differences
• Currently hosts four podcast shows under the brand "They Call Me Mista Yu"
• Preparing to launch high-performance coaching services and publish more books in 2025
• Encourages men to find community and safe spaces to be vulnerable, emphasizing that everyone's struggles are significant but not unique

Connect with Mista Yu at theycallmemrubuzzsprout.com to listen to his podcasts and follow his journey.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Multi-talented Mr. U
• 5:08 Growing Up in Brooklyn
• 11:08 Finding Release Through Podcasting
• 17:40 The Birth of "They Call Me Mr. U"
• 25:13 Escaping Death and Finding Faith
• 34:27 The Power of Purpose
• 44:09 Culinary Passion and Food Unity
• 50:39 Future Projects and Finding Mentorship

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:19

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Speaker 2: 0:22

Hi, this is Mia Morsens. You're also known as Mia no time for love. Check out my latest book, missing, available on Amazon.

Speaker 4: 0:29

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Speaker 5: 0:39

It's now time for the Mike Wagner Show, powered by Sonic Web Studios. Visit online at sonicwebstudioscom for all your needs. The Mike Wagner Show can be heard on Spreaker, spotify, iheartradio, youtube, itunes, anchor, fm Radio Public and themikewagnashowcom. Mike brings you great guests and interesting people from all across the globe. So sit back, relax and enjoy another great episode of the Mike Wagner Show.

Speaker 4: 1:10

Everybody. It's Mike from the Mike Wagner Show powered by SoundCloud Studios. Brought to you by our official sponsor, the Mike Wagner Show international warring author me and most of the missing available on Amazon and paperback and e-book Coming soon. Missing two double the expense, double the fun. Check it out on Amazon. Also brought to you by Sweet Thomas, by Serena Wagner, based on the life of David, including theories, quiz of pains and K David Psalms Amazoncom keyword Sweet Thomas, serena Wagner. Also check out the Mike Wagner Show at the MikeWagnerShowcom.

Speaker 4: 1:38

50 podcast platforms, heard in 100 countries, including Facebook, soundcloud, spreaker, spotify, iheartradio also Anchor FM, iheartradio, youtube, bitchute, rumble and more and follow us on Instagram, linkedin, twitter, tiktok and more. We're here for the terrific gentleman who's a multi-talented best-selling author, podcaster, interviewer and our day minister and mentor. He was born in Brooklyn, new York, with multiple degrees in business administration and management, computer programming, certified business coaching and the culinary arts. We'll find out how he manages to tie all that in. He's worked for a decade in the food service industry and served in the state government as the passport advocate and associate and also department supervisor, and also currently an ordained minister teaching leadership, development, biblical principles and community service. And he also escaped death numerous times and he's got a podcast. We'll talk about that Live. Ladies and gentlemen, plus dues, a beautiful downtown Charleston, south Carolina, multitalented, best-selling author, podcaster, interviewer, ordained minister and mentor. They call me Mr U the Multitalented, mr U Mr U. Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, thanks for joining us today.

Speaker 2: 2:45

You made this guy sound incredible. Thank you, man. That's amazing. Thanks for having me on, man. It's been already interesting already, man, but thank you for having me here. I'm excited about this man.

Speaker 4: 2:57

What great to have you on board as well too. And look what you got I to it and look what you got. I mean I need some cash. I'm going to be honest with you. You're a multi-talent best-selling author, podcaster, interviewer, ordained minister and also mentor. You were born in Brooklyn, new York, with multiple degrees in business administration and management, computer programming, served by business coaching and culinary arts. I kind of wish I did all that too. You do. Well, we wish you did. We'll find out how we did that in a minute. You worked for a decade in the food service industry. You served as a state government, as a passport associate and also department supervisor, currently an ordained minister, teaching leadership development, biblical principles and community service. You escaped death a number of times and the founder of Mirror Time Media and the podcast. They Call Me Mr you and we'll talk about that. You also co-authored a couple of books. Before getting all that done, going through this maze of all the achievements, tell us how you first got started.

Speaker 2: 3:51

How I first got started with Wishing Way back.

Speaker 4: 3:53

Way back. Wishing Sherman Way back.

Speaker 2: 3:55

Yeah, being born and raised in Brooklyn, new York, to get what you read in magazines, what you hear about in the media, it's not, it's not, it's not all. It's not all accurate. There are a lot of things they call it the concrete jungle for a reason, and that part is very, very accurate. But there's just so much, so much love and so much, I guess, emphasis on being a neighborhood and being a strong community that you wouldn't think happens in New York, but it's really there and it's one thing I'm most grateful about because that helped me to kind of be who I've become, because the rest of the city, you know, it's kind of dog-eat-dog. You know, fend for yourself, you know, stay out of people's business and just do your own thing, and, man, there's so much love and community in that place and that's what I was surrounded by growing up. So that was part of my upbringing.

Speaker 2: 4:54

My mother was from the Virgin Islands. My grandmother before her was from Panama. Oh, wow, okay. So they brought a work ethic with them that they instilled in me. It was, you know, there were no easy handouts, it was hard work and integrity and I got that from them. So I'm like this is just. You know my upbringing was fantastic in regards to. You know not the thing that you go through in a low-income area. You know with the. You know not the thing that you go through in a low income area. You know with the. You know challenging my mom with two jobs and went to school the entire time I lived with her, oh wow.

Speaker 2: 5:31

She was a lifetime student. I think she still is.

Speaker 4: 5:35

She's still a student. You say going to school.

Speaker 2: 5:39

I think she's still doing that kind of stuff, taking classes. I mean, I don't think she's changed any of that stuff, so she can't help herself. She loves to learn and learn new things and grow. I can't fault her for that. I mean, I think I got that from her too, because everything you named that's me exploring, that was me going into different places. You know, I want to try something different, learn something new, and I got multiple tools in my toolbox because of what I've seen her do. So that's why that long list of accomplishments that you call it. That's where it's coming from Me exploring and growing, not being content to stay in the same space and not wanting to plateau, you know.

Speaker 4: 6:18

Right, yeah, not being on job for 40 plus years, except I can move into the company. That seems to be a new trend these days, where you go from, like you know, one to another, to another and you're supposed to grow. I mean 40 years pretty much. For my reading today it's pretty much non-existent, out the window.

Speaker 2: 6:34

Yeah, I mean, I guess in a way, people think that or people try to let us know that that's a bad thing. I'm like I never. I was always struggling with that because I didn't think it was a bad thing. Okay, yeah, you don't have a person that's going to be on your uh, on your payroll for 50 years. Okay, Sorry for you, but I mean, but if you want to develop people and develop leaders and help people kind of reach their full potential, if you care about that as a business a lot of businesses don't. They care about the bottom line. If you care about growing somebody as a leader and growing them in purpose and fulfillment, they might not stay with you for 50 years. They may gain what they need to and move on to a more challenging area. You can't stay in a community for 40 years. You'd lose your mind.

Speaker 4: 7:15

Right, exactly, I've seen that happen to people too. So yes, I've seen that yeah, and what did your mom do at that time as well? What did she do?

Speaker 2: 7:26

She was in the medical field. She was working as a nurse and working in the medical field with patients and preventive medicine and stuff. I remember that so much. I'm like preventive medicine, what is that? But that was her jam and she did that for many, many years, along with going to school and just learning things in the realm of advanced mathematics and medicals. I mean, all the books that was in the house. I'm like what are you doing? So I used to even try to read some of the books. I was so curious. I was always an avid reader. She put that in me as well too. So that was her life.

Speaker 2: 8:00

My grandmother was a I don't know what they call it. I mean, I don't know if a housekeeper is the right word for what she was doing, because she was doing more than that, but she was doing housekeeping. She was taking care of groceries and taking care of elderly people who were unable to take care of themselves. My grandmother, that was her thing. So I guess the seed of service and generosity. I got that, and I'm glad, because if you don't have that in New York City, it could be rust-laden for you. So I'm grateful for that seed being planted by my mom and my grandmother.

Speaker 4: 8:35

So yeah, and that is so amazing, what you guys have done and everything like that, and, of course, you know, getting into all the things you did being an author, podcaster, interviewer and ordained minister, everything. What was that one exact, precise moment that simply influenced you into what you do in the rest of your career? Like the event that happened, a thought happened that led you say this is what I'm going to do.

Speaker 2: 9:44

I guess in the realm of podcasting is something that you and I share a love for. I guess I'll just go ahead and fast forward to that. I think most people that I know started their podcast probably around the same time I did in 2020. Worst time in our world's history especially, oh yes, and we were challenged. People were losing their jobs, people were losing their lives. It was a lot. I mean a 24-hour new TV on where I have a new cycle of death, misery disease. It was a lot. I mean the 24-hour. You can't turn the TV on without having a news cycle of death, misery disease. It was just awful.

Speaker 2: 10:14

So for me, I needed to find an escape from that because I lost job, I lost family members, I was dealing same as everybody else. I didn't want to watch it on a 24-hour news cycle. It was going on, it was going on, it was reality. But I couldn't sit there and watch that and let that be my food every single day for 24 hours a day. So I need to find something else to kind of feed me, encourage me, help me. You know, not lose it all in this crazy time we were all living in and I just I was always I grew up with a big, huge radio fan.

Speaker 2: 10:47

I mean I remember all the radio jocks. I mean I was, I was in it. It was a part of the background of my upbringing, especially back home in New York city. So I was a big fan of radio. So podcasting, which is a easy answer I was trying to find little radio shows and stuff.

Speaker 2: 11:00

I ran into some podcasts and I listened to those and I was hearing some of the same thing that I was dealing with people who were you know what. I'm creative, I got this going on. I got to live out loud and make this thing happen and I got encouragement from that. I'm like you know what? These guys are not talking about misery all the time. They're not crying poor mouth. All the time they're doing something with their life and with their time to help other people. And it inspired me and I listened to more and more podcasts and before you know it, harry I will just describe on your show as an epiphany and I think pretty much that, um, you've uh really built up a podcast and, uh, who are some of your favorite podcasts that you enjoy listening to?

Speaker 4: 11:39

I mean, I mean, I like to tune into joe rogan from time to time because he's got his own number one. I'll tell you a story behind that, but go ahead, what, what's your favorite podcasts?

Speaker 2: 11:48

I mean I don't know if I have a favorite. I listen to some of him. I listen to my Zayn. I listen to people who you know kind of talk about things on a business level. I listen to Stanley. I listen to a lot of different people. I don't think I have a favorite, mike. To be honest with you, I just kind of just, you know, gleaned a little bit because I was just searching. At that time I was going through a lot of stuff in my head mental stuff and I'm like I gotta just find something to encourage me. I listened to a lot of sports podcasts during that time.

Speaker 4: 12:13

Yes, that's a big one too, especially at the Yankees You're following, I noticed, got your beloved Brooklyn Nets and then you've got football coming up the Giants and the Jets, and you know there's get on a corporate level. They pretty much set the glass ceiling. There's a lot of great sports podcasts out there, even just two regular football fans that really know what they're doing, unlike the other guys at ESPN or whatever not knocking, but it's like you got the fans that really know their stuff that worry about bottom lines.

Speaker 2: 12:44

You sure are knocking them, but it's justified, but yeah. So I mean I think you're trying to find I guess it's justified, but yeah. So I mean I was just trying to find, I guess, a relief from all that. I was listening to sports, I mean sports, talking about sports. It's not talking about, you know, masks. It's not talking about diseases, it's talking about sports. I'm like you know what? I needed a break. So I just I just delved into that, like I was saying before, and I started purchasing some podcasting equipment. And here we are, almost five years later I guess next month will be five years that I've been doing this.

Speaker 4: 13:17

Nice. Okay, we'll talk about our accomplishments hitting the five-year anniversary and, by the way, congratulations come up as well, too, in advance. We'll talk about that with the Call Me and Me See you podcast, along with being an ordained minister and more. But first listen to the Mike Weidner Show at the MikeWeidnerShowcom. It's powered by SoundCloud Studios. Visit online at SoundCloudStudioscom for all your needs. Look at a professional website without breaking your budget. Soundcloud Studios is the answer. Soundcloud Studios offers fast, affordable, customized designs that blow the competition away. Call today 1-800-303-3960. That's 1-800-303-3960. Or email to support at sonicwebstudioscom. Mention the mike wagner show. Get 20 off your first project. Sonic web studios, take your image to the next level. Also time to give official shout out to our official sponsor, the mike wagner show. International warring.

Speaker 4: 14:02

Author me and molson zia. If you love fast-paced mysteries, you love missing by me and molson zia, available on amazon and paper. Missing is fast-paced and intriguing, with an unforgettable twist. It takes place in four countries, two strangers, one target, where truth is illusion, and those will be the first to go missing. It's available on Amazon and paperback and e-book. Missing by me and Molson Zia has gone great in history and Eve Levin, endorsed by Howard's celebrities, including Joanna, cassidy, forbes, riley and many others. So grab your copy today for Ghost Missing by me, melson Zia, available on Amazon Coming soon.

Speaker 4: 14:33

Missing 2, double the Spence, double the Fun. Check it out on Amazon. Also brought to you by the Sweet Psalmist, by Serena Wagner. Based on life of David, including Thursday's Quiz of Pains and King David's Psalms, the Sweet Psalmist gives a new perspective or started and complicated your term or relationship with King Saul. This is sort of love, betrayal, repentance, hope and more. Check out the Sweet Salmas by Serena Wagner on Amazon. Keyword Sweet Salmas, serena Wagner.

Speaker 4: 14:57

Also check out the Mike Weiner Show at themikewindershowcom. 50 podcast platforms heard in 110 countries, including Facebook, soundcloud, spreaker, spotify, iheartradio plus, apple Music, bitchute, rumble, youtube and more. Follow us on LinkedIn, instagram, twitter, tiktok Make sure you take us with you on any mobile device. And for great gift ideas, go to amazoncom. Check out the Mike Wintershow podcast. T-shirts, pop suckers, throw pillows, tote bags, hoodies makes great gifts 24 seven. Go to amazoncom. Slash me and Wilson Zia for great books, merchandise and more. And support the Mike Weiner Show on Anchor FM, paypal and themikeweinershowcom. We're here with the multi-talented best-selling author, podcaster, interviewer, ordained minister and mentor, mr Yu, here on the Mike Weiner Show. And, of course, before we talk about getting to your podcast, you started off as a best-selling author, if I'm right. If there's something you want to talk about, starting off first, but you being best-selling author, you co-authored Born to Risk the Heart of the Stepfather and tell us about those first of all.

Speaker 2: 15:58

Well, the Heart of the Stepfather. That was my first foray into book publishing. I wrote that essentially out of a deep hurt just having a lack of fatherhood and mentorship in my life, coming as a young man, especially in the mean feast of New York, you know. So they came out of that. And then, of course, I married a beautiful woman when I moved to the South. Married a beautiful woman. Our anniversary is this month.

Speaker 4: 16:25

We're going to be 29 years in.

Speaker 2: 16:27

Thank you, sir. 29 years in and we have three beautiful daughters, six grandkids and one great grandchild.

Speaker 4: 16:33

Wow, amazing, you're blessed.

Speaker 2: 16:36

We got a family that's a bit blended, as they call it, and that book was talking about a lot of that All the challenges. How do you have a father? How do you become a father, I should say, when you haven't had one? So how do you teach that? So those are the kind of things that I had to try to learn almost on the fly. I mean, a lot of it was with God's help, I got to be honest about that, but a lot of it was reading and examination and just trial and error, and the book was a lot about that.

Speaker 2: 17:04

The Born to Rich Project is coming up. It's going to be launching, matter of fact, in less than 10 days from now, and I'm excited about it because the first book, the first edition, was a bestseller. It was wildly popular and it did very well. So this edition is going to be, I think, the same. The stories in this book about people who risked their lives, who risked embarrassment and walked in courage and resilience it's the kind of thing that's like you know, you want to hear those kind of stories, especially in the time that we're in now, with so much stuff that's honestly turn the news on again, and even in 2025,. It's not 2020, but in 2025,. To turn the news on, it's like, wow, what a bummer.

Speaker 4: 17:46

I know, I know and I get tired of seeing the news scroll all the time. It's like, you know, breaking news, breaking news, like we're already broken as is, and right now I actually deliberately took out the breaking news feed. It's like that's the last thing we need to see. We want people focus on this, not on the little scroll or a little ticker tape, the sports scores and all that. We want people to focus on this, not the thing that scrolls.

Speaker 2: 18:12

Yeah, and now that that book, this is my prediction. I believe that book's going to encourage people to fight for their life, to fight for purpose in their life and to be the best version of themselves that they can be. That's what my hope is for this book. I wouldn't have been involved if I didn't believe that it can accomplish that. I'm excited about that and I think my author at heart, because I got several books that haven't been released yet, that are going to be coming soon, so I'm excited about those too. But it's kind of just where you know, everybody that has a story doesn't need to write a book. I've been open about that on all of our shows I talk about that. It's not. Everybody wants to talk about something. Shouldn't start a podcast either. It really needs to be a. I'll stop short of using the word calling, but it needs to be very purposeful.

Speaker 4: 19:00

Oh, that's interesting. And what is the story behind that?

Speaker 2: 19:03

Instead of calling being very purposeful, I mean because I kind of feel like people who can. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you need to do it. I know people who start a podcast and I know them. I know their lifestyle, I know how they live, I know what time they wake up in the morning, I know what time they go to sleep at night. I know friends, people who I know you shouldn't be doing a podcast. Some of them don't even have the lifestyle and the discipline it's going to take to be a podcaster.

Speaker 2: 19:35

I mean, with all you're doing, with all the things that you are involved with the sponsorships and all the things that you're doing, those things take discipline. To do that stuff it takes planning. You got to be on top of things. You can't just be, you know, flying by the seat of Penn. You know what we're going to start at 12 o'clock, but you know what I got to blaze I'm going to start at 1245. That's not how that works. You got to be on time because you got people who are watching and listening, not only around the country but around the world.

Speaker 4: 20:00

Right 24-7, 365. And that's why I say good morning, good afternoon, good evening. Breakfast in Los Angeles at 7 am, you'd be having dinner in London, or lunch in London at noon. You'd be having dinner in Tokyo at 6, or having trouble going to sleep at 2 am in Tokyo. So that's a whole thing you can be watching anytime, just like with your podcast. You know, I watch 247-365, which is great.

Speaker 2: 20:28

Yeah, I mean, even when I'm sleeping, something's still going on. People are still listening, it's still numbers being tabulated and people's interests are still being stoked while I'm sleeping, while we're sleeping as podcasters. So it's just a. It's a. It's a big. It's a big assignment.

Speaker 2: 20:41

I'm not saying it's insurmountable, I'm not saying you can't grow it. You can make it a full time business. I'm sure that's possible. I'm sure you know a lot about that. Sure that's possible. I'm sure you know a lot about that. But you know it takes work. So whether you're writing a book or podcasting or public speaking or whatever you're doing, it takes work. There's no easy answers for this. If you want to build a house right, you got to make sure the foundation is right. It's going to be a mess the more you grow it. I just look at my life that way. So all the things I get involved with, whether you podcast, I take it really seriously. I don't mess around with folks who are just kind of just flying by the seat of their pants. I don't have anything to offer those people because you know this is, this is not a big enough dream for you to to sacrifice for it. So this is big for me, it's big for you, obviously, so this is why we do what we do, right.

Speaker 4: 21:29

Exactly, you're right, and I forgot to ask this one question here. Give us a story behind the Mr you. I've been curious about that. I was going to ask you by original name, but it's like Mr you.

Speaker 2: 21:42

what's up with that one I like that it's interesting to me, hopefully it's interesting to you and your listeners. But I consider myself a self-professed introvert, even more so than at that time than ever before. I'm softening that stance a little bit now, but then self-professed, full-blown introvert. I didn't want my name on, I didn't want my face on things, I didn't want my voice on things. So to step into podcasting, it took me a minute to try to rationalize the idea of taking all this introversion and put it out here on these streets, put it out here for the globe to see. That was hard for me. So I was trying to figure out what to name.

Speaker 2: 22:23

The first show because I, through our journey since 2020, I probably had 10 shows and I probably was a weekly panelist in the sports realm for seven of those. So I probably had maybe seven, 15 to 17 things I was doing every week which became aggressive and too hard to handle. Try to scale back from that. But now we have four shows, but the first show I didn't know what to call it and I'm like as an introvert you're not going to put your name on it because you're an introvert. You're not going to put your name on it because you're an introvert, you're not going to do that Right exactly.

Speaker 4: 22:52

Or it's just like you may be afraid that people might come after you or they won't connect. I think something like that is just very creative. It's like you know, have something that's really catchy and everything like that. And I think catchy has something creative. It's like, hey, it's like you know, listen to this, not go by. You know your full name, whatever it is. It's like you know, have a name attached is really catchy and marketable too.

Speaker 2: 23:16

Yeah Well, I'm hoping that's what this is. I didn't think about that in the moment, but it came from this being in New York. My name, my given name, is Yusef. Now, that name wasn't super uncommon in my upbringing, especially in New York City. It was fairly common, as a matter of fact, because New York is a melting pot from all different cultures from all around the world. Those things aren't uncommon. When I moved to the South, it was very, very uncommon. I went to the movie theater, supermarket, grocery store.

Speaker 2: 23:49

Wherever I went, people struggled to say my name and I thought wow, you get weird being that you had to do a tutorial again about how to say my name and people. They tried so hard. God bless them.

Speaker 4: 23:58

Or you just say hey, you yeah.

Speaker 2: 24:01

Well I say you know what? Hey, you Just call me you. And they're like, okay, and it kind of stuck in ministry and community circles the parents struggle to say their name as well and their little kids couldn't say my name either. Oh, wow, I said, just call me Mr U. And little kids now, even to this day, they still call me Mr U. And now their parents call me Mr U.

Speaker 2: 25:06

I don't think anybody calls me by my name. Even my own family doesn't call me that. I don't know who does, but I hear Mr U everywhere in my own family doesn't call me that. I don't know who does, but I hear Mr U everywhere in my own house, in my family, my mother, my sisters, everybody called me Mr U. So it kind of just stuck. So little kids get the credit for that. They came up with it basically and it became the name of the show. They called me Mr U. My wife did help out with some of that too, so she gets some partial, partial credit for the name of our first show, which is now a brand that's not even around anymore. I'm doing other shows since then. So they call me Mr U is the brand of our four shows that we put out, and they call me Mr U. Hopefully it's marketable, but it's definitely simple and easy to remember. So it's been working out so far. Man, so that's how the story started.

Speaker 4: 25:48

It sounds amazing, too, that you started the podcast in 2020. What was that one exact, precise moment that simply said yes, I am going to do a podcast, despite you being an introvert and never done this before? What was that one moment that simply said yep, I'm going to do it?

Speaker 2: 26:04

Well, when I was talking about trying to find a release from all the things that we've been getting in the news cycle and just in the in the air and just in chat rooms, it was just super negative. But I grew up even as a six-year-old, I was a writer. I would write as therapy, I would write down things that I see I was, I was sitting on my stoop in new york and I was in brown at the brownstone and I would look around and I'll write down what I see it was part of my therapy, part of my release. So I was doing that all the way since six years old, all the way up to 2020. But with all that was going on in our world at that time, I'm writing this stuff down.

Speaker 2: 26:39

And guess what? For the first time I'm not feeling like I'm receiving therapy. It wasn't therapeutic anymore, it wasn't working. I'm like it kind of got me scared, like wait a minute. This was my release for all these years through my childhood, adolescence, teenage years, into young adulthood and now this therapy I've been leaning on it's not working anymore. So I got really nervous, like what do I do now?

Speaker 2: 27:03

So for me, I was desperate to find a release. I needed to find that somewhere and this was the answer. Through my love for radio and then leaning into podcasting, that's how I figured it out. And to get on here, even as a self-professed introvert, to get on here and talk to the people talk to awesome people like yourself, it does something for me. Our flagship show was one-on-one with Mr U. I talked to folks around the world and I learned so much about myself and about the world around us. It's changed my perspective. Now I'm like I'm I'm more grateful for what I have, because I hear these stories like wow, I thought my situation was bad and it gives you perspective. So these shows have been a blessing. So I'm grateful to have ventured into the podcasting world.

Speaker 4: 27:47

I mean, it's been a blessing oh, it sounds like it as well to hear some, some of your notable guests that you've had on the show.

Speaker 2: 27:54

Notable guests that I've had on the show. Hmm, I got a guy coming on now he's he might be big time, but I'll just wait. I'll hold off on saying his name. But I've met people who are CEOs of companies. I've met people who are kind of doing some men's power movements, if you will. A gentleman named Rory Paquette, good buddy of mine. He's doing some fantastic work. I probably interviewed like maybe 50 people since we've been involved in our community. So I don't remember all the fun but I just remember the stories.

Speaker 2: 28:32

You know people who are like one good friend of mine. She does a podcast called Honest Christian Conversations and she has. I won't tell her story because I just can't. I don't feel good about that, but she does. She's come from such a hard place You'd never imagine that she'd be able to survive it. And she's come out and she's better for it. She's a leader in her community. She's a fantastic communicator. You'd never see that coming if you looked at her background.

Speaker 2: 29:03

I know a guy that lives in Norway. I think he's from Ireland or Brisbane At least he lives in Norway now I think it is and he's a leader in the social media realm. He has a massive following. He helps people learn new languages and he helps people navigate social media and all the nice little things that we deal with, that we don't like about analytics and stuff. He helps people deal with those things and coaches them. I mean, I've met all kind of people and it's just like. This is just amazing. I've met all kinds of people and it's just like. This is just amazing. I've met people who are advocating for women's rights in the workplace. I've met all kinds of people and I'm meeting so many more as we move forward. So it's been an awesome journey. Mike, it's just too good a name, man. I'm sorry, I can't.

Speaker 4: 29:45

No, that's okay, you know something. You've got some great Mr you. You're listening to the Mike Wagner Show at themikewagnershowcom, powered by SoundCloud Studios brought to you by our official sponsor, the Mike Wagner Show international warring author me and most of the missing. The Sweet Summits by Serena Wagner, based on the life of David, including theories, quiz opinions and King David's Psalms amazoncom keyword Sweet Sum.

Speaker 1: 30:33

We'll be back with a multi-talentedioscom. To get started today, Mention the Mike Wagner Show and get 20% off your project. Sonic Web Studios. Take your image to the next level.

Speaker 3: 30:40

Hey there, dana Alexa here, american News Anchor. Hey, let me ask you something real quick. Why do you read a book? You're buying a story, a thought, a message, and a good book entertains and inspires, and that's exactly what Missing, by award-winning author Mian Zia, does. I have his book right here and it's based on real events with relatable characters that hook you from start to finish. I personally love this book. It's super powerful and meaningful. You can actually get it on Amazon right now.

Speaker 4: 31:11

The Mike Wagner Show is brought to you by Serena Wagner's book the Sweet Psalmist, now available on Amazon. This book includes 30 exquisite paintings by well-known and unknown painters and King David Psalms. The Sweet Psalmist gives us a new perspective on his life in this book Through the Psalms he wrote. His time as a shepherd in the field is where the book starts, and it goes on to describe his complicated and turbulent relationship with King Saul, as well as other events. It's a story of love, betrayal, repentance and more. It also offers advice on approaching God and living a life that pleases Him. Check out the book the Sweet Psalmist by Serena Wagner, now available on Amazon. Keywords Sweet Psalmist, serena Wagner. Hey, hey, this is Ray Powers. And boy, are you in luck. Right place, right time, tuned in to the Mike.

Speaker 1: 31:54

Wagner Show. You heard me.

Speaker 4: 32:00

Welcome back to the Multitalent Mr U here on the Mike Wagner Show with the podcast. They call me Mr U, and you also call us the born to risk and the heart of the stepfather. You also became an ordained minister as well, too, and tell us more about your journey.

Speaker 2: 32:14

Well, my mother and grandmother, they were all staunch Episcopalians. Now, if you've ever been out, if you know anything about Episcopalians, it's an offshoot of Catholicism. So if you've been in any of those kind of ministries and churches on a Sunday morning, you know kind of the vibe, the feel it's pretty. You know kind of the vibe, the feel is pretty. Laid back May not be a good word, but it's pretty low key, it's not super upbeat. And for me, this energetic, crazy Brooklyn kid, I needed some pep in my worship service so I struggled with doing that. I heard what was being taught and I understood some things about the Bible, at least on my level, but I struggled with the whole getting immersed in that just because of all the other factors. But you know, for me I grew up around people who were very religious and very faithful in their lifestyle and you know that has some situations. I guess we call them some near-death situations and just some.

Speaker 4: 33:18

Oh, I was just going to ask you about that. I completely forgot about it. We got so involved with the podcast I forgot to ask you about that. I'm glad you mentioned it.

Speaker 2: 33:25

That's okay, I have some light bulb moments out here and it played a big part in my finding my faith and even finding myself in a process. I mean, because it's one thing to live faith because your mother and father and grandmother and grandparents did, that's one thing. But to find it for yourself and have an understanding of who you are in this whole space, that that was the turning point for me. I was a victim of an armed robbery at one point. I mean this meant multiple things that happened, but that's just one thing that happened and I was at a place where I had been involved with a cult oh wow, and I just got out of it, by the grace of God. I got out of it and I was the victim of an armed robbery not long after that, maybe less than two weeks from the decision that I made to leave this organization, and I came out with my life. The guy that was robbing me. He was afraid, probably because of the reputation of the people who I used to run with, and he had his finger on the trigger, probably about maybe three or five inches from my face, and his hand is shaking violently. I'm like this is really just going to be how my story goes. I'm five houses from my mom's house, from safety, if you will. I'm like this is how I'm going to go out, standing here by this tree with a guy holding a revolver to my face, with his finger on the trigger and his hand shaking. Is this the end of the story?

Speaker 2: 34:52

I'm like, even though I didn't understand everything about faith and I don't understand anything about life just as a young person still growing up, still figuring some stuff out I felt like I had more in me than what I was seeing or what anybody was telling me. I felt like I had more of a story, more of a purpose in life. So in my mind I'm like so. And my mom like this can't be the way that I go. I can't be a classic. We had classic, uh, stories that just happened in new york. All the time it was happening on the news, it was nightly and daily. I'm like I can't. I was so I was thinking about all those things, all that in this, in the blink of an eye, why this guy got a revolver to my face. I'm like I can't be one of these stories. Not that I'm better than them.

Speaker 4: 35:34

I can't go out like this, or especially being on 10 o'clock news as like top story or like you know before we go to weather. Oh my gosh, yeah, no, I just couldn't do this.

Speaker 2: 35:45

I was thinking about taking the gun out of his hand. I was thinking about all types of things, but honestly, I didn't do any of that stuff. I let him do what he was going to do. He was so afraid that he missed $600 in my left pocket. He didn't notice it. He was so scared. So he so he. He walked out with a water and toilet paper, a broken watch, and that was that was his big take.

Speaker 4: 36:10

And all that just to shoot toilet paper and a watch, oh my.

Speaker 2: 36:13

God From all the lunch I had that day. That was his big take. I'm sure he was pretty disappointed once he looked at what he had.

Speaker 4: 36:24

I was just going to say we're just glad it wasn't a Rolex. Maybe it was just like a $10 watch you got from Walmart it wasn't a Rolex.

Speaker 2: 36:33

I'll probably assess it at probably about 15 bucks or less. It's not. It wasn't a Rolex.

Speaker 4: 36:39

Oh my gosh. I mean, I mean that was something right there too, and you also talk about having a purpose as well too, and you know many of us has a purpose. There's people who are having trouble finding a purpose, and you also give some advice. It's like you know what is your purpose and how do you find your purpose and what is really your purpose? I mean your personal interpretation of purpose.

Speaker 2: 37:04

I know people want one singular thing and I'm developing this. I'm doing this even in coaching. I'm learning that it's not so much just one thing, it's a number of things that cumulatively amount to one thing. So people are trying to find people go to a job and say I want to find my purpose in this job, I want to go work for Google because that's my purpose in life. I'm like, no, you may find some aspect of purpose in the work that you do, but your purpose is not inside of a cubicle. I don't believe that whatsoever. No, no, no. I believe there's more for you than that, because that's a model that your purpose will be housed in. If that makes sense, it'd be almost imprisoned in, so that can't be it. This has to fulfill you on days when you know what you don't feel like getting up. It doesn't. You know. You don't want to deal with your supervisor because your supervisor's been, you know, not really great to you.

Speaker 4: 38:01

Don't bring them down, your back pressure and all that type. We don't need that.

Speaker 2: 38:06

Yeah, purpose transcends that stuff. So I don't tell folks you know what their purpose is. I I don't tell folks you know what their purpose is. I haven't done that through anything I've done coaching-wise, even personally. I don't do that. I just help folks try to find it and I honestly believe that purpose leaves clues and there's things in our lives that had been there, that had been in the background. We just haven't paid attention to it. Because of all that we got going on in life the preponderance of things that we deal with every day and we didn't realize that you know what? There was something important, it was the important key there and you missed it. I believe we all deal with that kind of stuff, but I really believe that as long as we continue to keep looking, we're going to find purpose in our everyday lives. The minute we stop looking, I think we start the slow death process.

Speaker 4: 38:57

And I think that's a really good point as well too, and of course you know, you being a business coach and culinary arts, I seem to like that one as well too. It's just like you must be a really good cook.

Speaker 2: 39:02

I take, or did you get that from your, uh, your mom and, uh, grandma? I mean, confess if you did so honestly. I know that my mom, she, she watches a lot of our shows. I don't know if you're gonna see this or not, but she was. She was a great cook. Don't get me wrong. Mom was a really good cook. You know what I'm saying. But as a last kid, like she said, she was going to work and going to school.

Speaker 2: 39:18

When she was working two jobs and going to school, the majority of the time I was in the house so I was cooking for her. Most of the time it was not stove top, because she didn't, we didn't have that trust. She had to cook stuff on the stove when she wasn't at home. So I was doing a lot of oven stuff. Oh yeah, I was making meals for her. But I learned I don't know how I learned that it wasn't from, I see, my grandmother. She can really put in some work in the kitchen. I saw that, but I don't think I I don't know if I learned that from them. I'm not quite. I mean, I've seen it indirectly, but but I don't know where I learned that I think my curiosity and my love for food is just developed from just living in New York City.

Speaker 4: 39:54

Oh nice, Especially with all the different cultures, different offerings everything like that.

Speaker 2: 40:04

Like say like with street tacos, ribs, hot dogs. Why are you talking about all this stuff right now, mike? Come on, man. You're making me hungry. You're making me hungry. What are you?

Speaker 4: 40:12

doing. Come on man, you're making me hungry. You're making me hungry. What are you doing? Come on man. Well, you mentioned culinary arts.

Speaker 2: 40:20

I figure let's talk food right now, even if it's like breakfast in Los Angeles, lunch in New York or dinner in London or something like that. Yeah, I mean it's kind of hard to not see that, because literally every culture almost in the world can be represented in that place, in some place. I mean, I have friends that grew up that were from different countries and went to their houses and seen what they I mean. So it's not really hard. I mean, I just had a love for food and I wanted to make it. I saw people and this is how I this is what I believe sparked the love for it by, in a nutshell, by having these friends from different countries, whether they were Jewish or Russian or Scandinavian or Hispanic, by being in their houses and watching them, especially the Italian traditions.

Speaker 2: 41:01

You know where everybody comes together at the table and eats together. That was a tradition that I didn't often see that in my own household because of our schedules and stuff, but that meant so much to me to see the family dinners and stuff, and I said, wow, food unites people. I kind of just put two and two together Wow. So food. I mean I see people who don't agree politically, they don't agree culturally, but food makes everybody come together on the same page.

Speaker 2: 41:30

It's really hard to explain, but I've seen that. So for me I'm like, okay, well, if I have the ability to make food, I have the ability to create unity. Maybe I have the ability to kind of bring people together that ordinarily wouldn't be together. And I guess I took the challenge up and I started to learn how to cook, reading and trying recipes, testing it out with my mom, and when I left my house I was doing it even more, so Decided to go to culinary school and make it a thing and learn some new stuff. Nice, I'm still cooking today, man, so I'm just having some fun with this. It's a journey, but I think when I have family dinners in my household and bringing people over, I see the same smiles I've seen way back in the 70s and 80s.

Speaker 4: 42:14

Wow, that is amazing. And what's your favorite food you like to cook? What's your favorite dishes?

Speaker 2: 42:19

I love Italian. I don't know, Am I adopted Mom? I love Italian so much. I'm wondering am I Italian? I mean, I love it that much but I've done everything I've done. A homemade Chinese food that's something that I love to do Because, man, that's, it's fun and it's healthy, and the Chinese food I grew up eating gotta be honest, not the healthiest stuff you can have inside of your body.

Speaker 4: 42:47

Hey, that's the best thing. They love to speak with their hands and be expressive. They may have it down here, but they still have a love up for here, and a love for here, that's the best part of body. Even pizza brings everybody together too.

Speaker 2: 43:01

You speak in my language, man.

Speaker 4: 43:03

There you go. What do you like on your pizza? I'm going to throw this out for you.

Speaker 2: 43:06

Well, it's definitely not going to be pineapple, that's for sure. It won't be that.

Speaker 4: 43:10

Well, some people prefer pineapple. I'll do it if it's Hawaiian, but you know I'm more of a sausage pepperoni throwing a bacon onions green pepper and a drizzle of barbecue sauce. That's my ideal pizza.

Speaker 2: 43:23

I don't want to offend your listeners man, go for it.

Speaker 4: 43:26

Go ahead. You're sitting with us, go ahead.

Speaker 2: 43:28

Pineapples blow on pizza. I'm sorry.

Speaker 4: 43:31

That's okay. I mean you didn't hurt anybody. We're not getting any nasty letters or comments or dislikes. I'm subscribing, Don't worry about it.

Speaker 2: 43:41

I mean for me, I'm a pretty simple pizza eater. I mean for me, I'm a pretty simple pizza eater. I mean I want to kind of get down to I like the sauce, so sauce my slices up, really. Pepperoni and cheese. I can have some black olives on there, I can have some jalapenos, but honestly I don't even need to have that Pepperoni and cheese man, Just take care of that. I can do that one every single day. I'm like it's. It's a beautiful thing, man, growing up in new york and having these pizza battles whose pieces the best? From what I'm understanding, these battles are still raging on today. They're still going to them like wow oh, you know something.

Speaker 4: 44:18

You know you know something too. The new yorkers love to talk about their big pizza. Chicago's got the deep dish and detroit motor city got their thick Motor City pizza. But Chicago, you gotta come to Chicago sometime and try deep dish. You want to be adventurous? Come to Chicago and try deep dish. They'll love you over there.

Speaker 2: 44:35

I've tried it in Florida, nice, I tried it in Florida. I thought my heart was going to stop. How much love for you huh. It was way too much cheese, brother. I can't do this. It was really hard. I even tried Detroit here locally recently. I guess some people who come from Detroit and Detroit style pleasantly surprised. I really like Detroit style. Chicago is last on the list. I'm so sorry. It's just so sorry, it's okay.

Speaker 4: 45:08

I prefer the thin style. There are times I love deep dish and everything but Detroit style pizza. Double up on everything that is really delicious. Of course, in Los Angeles you got all the veggies on there. We love talking pizza. Hey, that's a great idea for your next podcast Talking pizza, pizza man why not Love talking pizza?

Speaker 2: 45:27

Hey, that's a great idea for your next podcast Talking pizza Pizza.

Speaker 4: 45:29

Man, why not? Okay, hey, why not? You can have some chefs who love to do pizza, Chefs that you know, speak your language, cooking and everything like that. Well, speaking of podcasts, where can we find your podcast and how?

Speaker 2: 45:40

it works at? Oh, absolutely, we're on all the listening platforms, wherever you get your podcasts from. We also have a YouTube channel, youtubecom. At theycallmemisteryou, you can see all the live audio and video episodes. Our listening platform, of course, are audio only, but theycallmemisteryoubuzzsproutcom will allow you to find all of our work all the way back to 2020.

Speaker 2: 46:02

And I'm very biased, so I say this up front my first three seasons of this show have been the very best things I've ever done. I've been the most transparent. I've shared some of the most poignant stories. I've shared my life stuff. I've grown the most. And those first three seasons that I'm I'm very, very partial to those. I invite you to check those out. If you want to check out what Mr U and this podcast brand is all about, start from the beginning. Don't start from last week, like some folks are doing. Start from the beginning. Start from September 2020 and tell me you're not moved by what you hear. Tell me your life isn't changed by what you hear, because my life was definitely changed by just sharing that with you guys. So they call me MrUBuzzsproutcom. I'm excited about what we're doing. I'm excited about our shows and excited to be here with you, brother. Thank you for this time, man.

Speaker 4: 46:51

And thank you as well too. And how about your website?

Speaker 2: 46:55

They call me MrUBuzzsproutcom. Right now Everything else is being developed so can't announce it yet, but it's coming. My coaching website, my public speaking website, all the things are coming soon. So right now, just be calling me MrUBuzzsproutcom to get a hold of all of our shows and be able to reach me, or use social media and send me a private message. I will respond that way too.

Speaker 4: 47:17

Okay, sounds great. We'll certainly do that. We're here with the amazing Mr U, and what else can we expect in 2025 and beyond?

Speaker 2: 47:26

Hmm, the launch of my new coaching service, high-performance coaching. That's going to be exciting because I've been doing that off and on for a while, but this is a major, major leg in the coaching game, so I'm excited about that. You're going to see some more of my personal books coming out that I'll be the primary author of so excited about that. And maybe some public speaking engagements on platforms Nice, We'll see what happens with that. But hopefully 2026 will hold. Have room for all those things to happen, so we'll see.

Speaker 4: 47:59

All right, we're certainly looking forward to it as well. Who do you consider biggest influence in your career?

Speaker 2: 48:04

Biggest influence in my career.

Speaker 4: 48:07

Yes, I'm putting you on the spot, mr Podcaster.

Speaker 2: 48:13

You did it, you did it. I've never been asked this question Biggest influence in my career? There's nobody in my workplaces, there's nobody. That, I think, is just the books that I've been mentored by. I just is just the books that I've been mentored by. I just think of what books would be the best. Which books? Oh, my goodness, there's so many I've read that just talk to me about leadership and teach me how to be accountable and walk in integrity. I think if I named one, I'd be offending all the other ones.

Speaker 2: 48:46

I don't know if I could do it, mike, but that's been my biggest influence, those books. Because, honestly, I spent a lot of years not having consistent mentorship in my life, consistent accountability, with people who were going to stick with you throughout the entire journey and not kind of drop you midway throughout the entire journey and I kind of drop you midway. So for me, I try to be a mentor and leader for those people who didn't have that as well. So I try to be the change I wanted to see. But those books, books like Wilder the Heart by John Eldridge, those are the kind of things that just shaped my life, showed me how to be the man that I'm supposed to be. You know the 10 laws of relationship. Just books like that have just taught me how to be a man and a leader and be an example and a role model and stuff. So short answer, brother, books, man. So many of them.

Speaker 4: 49:39

And that's a really good one too. We have, we should everybody you know read books and everything like that. And what's the best advice you can give to anybody at this point?

Speaker 2: 49:47

At this point, the best advice don't stop seeking purpose. I know people are comfortable, especially with the changing times, especially economically. People try to find a safe, comfortable solution. I've heard that most of my entire life, but I'm not the safe, comfortable person. So for me, I'm not the safe, comfortable person. So for me, I might continue to keep seeking purpose. Find it in community. When you find it in community, you find it in the connection. You find it in people who have done what you're trying to accomplish. Lean into that. Lean into those opportunities to have those mentors and coaches in your life that are going to be found in community a lot of the time. Connect with them, Sit at their feet and learn. They're younger than you Still learn. They're older than you Still learn. They're your same age, Still learn and grow and be fulfilled. Because at the end of the day, when all the lights go out and the work is over and the account is closed, there's no more work to do, you want to say you know what I did, everything that I was here to do.

Speaker 4: 50:46

And I think that's a great point. And lastly, what advice could you give to men at this point?

Speaker 2: 50:53

Men. Well, I'm doing that on a regular basis now with our new roundtable podcast series. But for men, I would say one of the biggest things men have issues. We have a lot of issues. We talk about those on the show every single month. So there's a lot of issues. We talk about those on the show every single month. So there's a lot to go into. But the biggest thing is the ability to connect. We talked about that on last month's show and it's still a big, pressing issue.

Speaker 2: 51:14

So my advice to anybody that's managed to listen today is your situation is really big to you, but it's not unique. People deal with the same thing in other places, in other parts of the world, in worse circumstances than the one that you're lamenting about. Seek out community. Find one or two men that you can share with and do it in a safe space, even if it's Mike, even if it's myself. Share with us, share with somebody who can be that shoulder for you to cry on, because you have to cry Men have to cry sometimes and lean on that and allow that community and that camaraderie to help you rebuild, to help you grow, to help you heal.

Speaker 4: 51:56

And I think that's really important as well too, especially getting out to a Yankee game or a giant game, you know, or just watch a Yankee game, a giant game, in front of a tube too. That's community right there. Yes, all right. Yeah, love it. You got that right here at the Multitalent Mr U with the Call Me, mr U podcast, here on the Mike Weiner Show, mr U. A very big thank you for your time. You've been absolutely amazing, sharing your stories, looking forward to having you soon. Keep us up to date, keep in touch, love to have you back, welcome back anytime. And before we go, what's your website? How do people contact you and when can people purchase the Bush?

Speaker 2: 52:31

Check out your services and more. We'll share a little thing with the books and the services as they come along. I'll keep you in the loop on that one. But they call me Mr you. Dot Bush brought dot com. We'll keep you updated on all of our podcast work and then we start adding to it from there.

Speaker 4: 52:43

We'll certainly do that, and a very big thank you in time. You've been amazing. Looking forward to having you soon. Keep us up to date. Keep in touch, live. I'll be back. We wish you all the best. In Mr U. You definitely have a great future ahead of you.

Speaker 1: 52:54

Thank you, sir. The Mike Wagner Show is powered by Sonic Web Studios. If you're looking to start or upgrade your online presence, visit wwwsonicwebstudioscom for all of your online needs. Call 1-800-303-3960 or visit us online at wwwsonicwebstudioscom. To get started today, Mention the Mike Wagner Show and get 20% off your project. Sonic Web Studios take your image to the next level.

Speaker 3: 53:24

Hey there, dana Alexa here, american News Anchor. Hey, let me ask you something real quick. Why do you read a book? You're buying a story, a thought, a message, and a good book entertains and inspires, and that's exactly what Missing, by award-winning author Mian Zia does. I have his book right here and it's based on real events with relatable characters that hook you from start to finish. I personally love this book. It's super powerful and meaningful. You can actually get it on Amazon right now.

Speaker 4: 53:55

The Mike Wagner Show is brought to you by Serena Wagner's book the Sweet Psalmist, now available on Amazon. This book includes 30 exquisite paintings by well-known and unknown painters and King David Psalms. The Sweet Psalmist gives us a new perspective on his life in this book Through the psalms he wrote. His time as a shepherd in the field is where the book starts, and it goes on to describe his complicated and turbulent relationship with King Saul, as well as other events. It's a story of love, betrayal, repentance and more. It also offers advice on approaching God and living a life that pleases him. Check out the book the Sweet Psalmist by Serena Wagner, now available on Amazon. Keywords Sweet.

Speaker 5: 54:31

Psalmist Serena Wagner. Thanks for listening to the Mike Wagner Show powered by Sonic Web Studios. Visit online at sonicwebstudioscom for all your needs. The Mike Wagner Show can be heard on Spreaker, spotify, iheart Radioio iTunes, youtube, anchor, fm Radio Public and themikewagnershowcom. Please support our program with your donations at themikewagnershowcom. Join us again next time for another great episode of the Mike Wagner Show.