As the school year comes to a close, and young people contemplate their first-year college experience, we asked Syracuse Student and Podcast Host, Mario Esteb, to join us in studio to discuss the rollercoaster experience that most college students experience as a first-year student. Also, we surprise Chanhassen High School Student and Football Player, Kameron Zurek, recipient of a 2023 Minnesota Masonic Charities Selfless Scholarship. He nominated teammate Tyler Smith and shares a bit about his special friendship with team manager, Wesley Parker.
As the school year comes to a close, and young people contemplate their first-year college experience, we asked Syracuse Student and Podcast Host, Mario Esteb, to join us in studio to discuss the rollercoaster experience that most college students experience as a first-year student. Also, we surprise Chanhassen High School Student and Football Player, Kameron Zurek, recipient of a 2023 Minnesota Masonic Charities Selfless Scholarship. He nominated teammate Tyler Smith and shares a bit about his special friendship with team manager, Wesley Parker.
Welcome to the Kindness Chronicles where we hope to inject the world with a dose of the Minnesota nice that it desperately needs. Steve Brown, we got a big show today. I'm excited. I'm very excited. Big, big show. We have a special guest in studio. In the bunkhouse studio. Yeah, we actually have two special guests. One is on the microphone and one is literally... Lying in the bunk bed. He looks very comfortable, but we'll get to him. A lot of people for this small room This is cool. And then we're gonna be doing a call later today All right with one of the one of the people that did a nomination for the the selfless scholar program Doesn't know that we're gonna be calling him and we're gonna be Informing him that, Oh my God, this is going to be the greatest. This might be the most exciting episode we've had. Well, exciting is, we'll see how exciting that this can get. But, let's just get started. Uh, I'd like to introduce our guest. Mario Estab. Hello, hello. Hello, hello. Welcome, Mario. Thank you for having me. Mario is a, uh, student at Syracuse University. Home of the formerly known as the Orange Man. Formerly, yep. But we decided here today that that was offensive to Donald Trump. So now it's just... Just the orange. Just the orange. Just the fruit. So, you know, that, that's clever. The Syracuse orange. Are there orange groves in Syracuse, New York? What is Honestly, I mean, I don't even know, but our mascot's like the best ever. He's Otto the Orange, and No one had any background on that one? Uh, why isn't this a Florida school? I don't know. This is New York we're talking about. Do you have any idea why they call it the Orange? Well, I I think they just got rid of the men and then... But I mean, why was it, why were they the orange men? Where'd that come from? It was, um, uh, Native American. Oh, okay. Oh, that's foul. You can't call them that. Yeah, that's why they changed it. Wow, okay. That makes perfect sense. Um, The orange fruit would be better. So the orange... There you go. There you go. You're gonna notice that we've got a little, uh, we got a fun little, uh, thing here that we might be, uh... It's a wacky morning show around here. but let's get to Mario. Mario, you, just finished your first year at Syracuse. Yep, just finished. Home for the summer. And the reason that we invited Mario, Mario was a student at Hill Murray High School, so he's a local guy, and was a very successful, actor, in the theater program at Hill Murray. Did some time at the Children's Theater. Not time like in prison, but you did some shows. That's cool. So, tell us just a little bit about your background before we get into your college experience. Yeah, so, I mean, if we go with the theater route, I, I started out as a dancer. When I was like five years old. Kind of like you, Steve. Yeah, I did. I was a dancer. Did some hip hop, jazz, little ballet. And then, um, Where did you dance? Did you dance for a team? Yeah, it was called Delmonico Dance. It was in Woodbury. And then, um, basically, like, the Ordway was, uh, they needed guy dancers to audition for A Christmas Story in December. And I had never done theater ever. I didn't sing or act, I just danced and then I went to the audition. And how old were you at this time? I was ten. Oh my gosh. Wow. I went to the audition with my dad. Uh, everyone had He's not a dancer. Huh? No. He's got some moves, I'd say. Oh, wow. Oh, good for him. I definitely get my dancing ability from my mom, though. That's cool. So five to ten, you were in dance class learning all that stuff? Yeah, like competitive. Wow. And go to the competitions. And then Went to the audition, cried. I mean everyone had like sheet music. I didn't have anything. I like sang with the casting director. Oh, okay. Somehow got a callback and then got in and then just kept doing'em. And is the term you got cast or casted? I think cast. Cast got cast, yeah. I think so. I don't know. Well, I never, I mean, I grew up on the east side of St. Paul, so May for me if you got yourself casted. Okay. That's fascinating. Yeah. I. I mean, professional shows till I was like, I mean from 10 till really high school and then it was very time consuming. So what other shows did you do? so I did, at the Ordway, I did Christmas Story, Damn Yankees, and, uh, Jesus Christ Superstar. So, always musicals, obviously, because you weren't, you weren't acting yet, or were you kind of acting and dancing? Oh yeah, it's acting, singing, dancing. Cool. Did you have lines in any of these shows? Yeah. What? Wow. I never had lines in any shows. No. And then didn't you do some stuff at the Children's Theater, or am I just imagining that? No, yeah, I did, I did the most there. Okay. Just like, um, like How the Grinch Stole Christmas, uh. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the world premiere of that. Really? What was your role in the ensemble. Okay. But um, and then like, Cinderella, uh, Wizard of Oz. Oh my god. Those are big productions. Those are like the, the big Christmases. did you get paid to do this? So, the Children's Theater, they don't pay, um, like, the children. They say we get paid in the experience. Which is true, but like at the Ordway, and then... See, you're getting paid in the experience for this program today as well. That's how it works on this podcast world. But, when I did, like, the Ordway, I got paid. Did ya? I don't know how much, it went all to my parents. Oh, wow. Yeah, that's how it works. Is that when you guys bought that bigger house in, uh, in Woodbury? You got a new car. Yeah. Yeah. So then you went to Hillmurray. Hail Mary, and then I stopped doing like professional theater just because I missed so much school. I barely went to school at St. Paschal's. I like Really? I, cause we had, at Children's Theater we had Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, matinees. So that's 10 30 a. m. So did you have tutors there? What? I just went to school like literally Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. I just went to school at like one. Did that stress you out though? Like for tests and papers and all that stuff? I mean, yes and no. Were you able to keep up? Yeah, I mean, I like got all my... Like work for the week on Mondays. That's how it works, John. Sometimes, honestly, I don't, I think I maybe understand you were so busy. You actually timed your, your timing was planned out so well, probably better than all other kids. So you actually figured out how to get your time in. If you're that scheduled somehow. You get better at scheduling your time when you're crammed with time. No, yeah, like I actually got all my work done and not just like procrastinated because I had to get it done. Yeah, you were in that mode. You were just going, going, going, going. That's cool. So then you go to Hillmurray. Go to Hillmurray. And they have a, a very strong reputation for their theater, uh, program. Yeah, they have a great program. I mean, the director that was there when I, um, was there, he was like a professional actor. Um, music instructor, she also does professional theater and they always bring in like, I mean, professional actors to help like choreograph and stuff, so. Really? Wow. Yeah. So, when you showed up, did you feel like big time in them at all? I'll tell you what I learned at the Yardway. Yeah. Back at the Children's Theater and one of my many, many productions, this is how we did it. So, all kidding aside, how did that work? I mean, because I would imagine that most of your peers at Hill Murray. It was their first production. Amateurs. Yeah, and I mean I didn't feel like elevated higher than anyone else But I would have I definitely was like I mean as a freshman I was probably like more professional and I like knew how to act in rehearsal more than other kids Yeah, you knew that you know what the game was. Yeah, you could definitely had more fun like with high school theater Just because it's like all your best. Yeah, of course Very cool. Yeah, that, that theater at Hillmurray has for many, many years has been a very strong program. Yeah, um, I remember, you know, Mr. Aschenbrenner. Our friend, yeah, our friend Lino Rulli was a big part of the, he took part in a lot of the plays and stuff in high school. And I was like so envious. I don't know why I didn't. I was very hammy in high school. But I was, I didn't, I didn't put any time into the theater. I don't know why. So, That's my loss. Do you know the name Lino? I'm sure that they still have a statue of him up somewhere in the theater. I don't know. Lino Rulli. No, so Lino, uh, Lino has become quite famous in his own right. He is known as the Catholic guy. And he's got a program on, uh, serious, serious satellite, sat satellite for like 14, 15 years. He's had the same, yeah. The dudes made a, uh, a living out of being the Catholic guy. Yeah. He's great. And he graduated in 80, um, 80, 89. 89. Yep. Year ahead of me. Yep. He was, he was one of, uh, he was one of our guests early on in the, uh, in the program. Yeah. All these Hillary kids. Well, you know, there's a lot of talent, a lot of talent on the, on the East side. No, I know that there's a lot of people listening. Oh, hillary. People come from everywhere. John, not just the East side. So what shows did you do at hill Murray? Yeah, I mean we would do like three or four a year. So like my first one was Newsies. Okay. That was a hit. Just a lot of dancing and a lot of named roles. Um, and then I mean sophomore year kind of got cut short. We did Holiday Inn right before like, um, the COVID shutdown. And then junior year was also kind of weird just with like masks and everything. If I remember they do two a year, right? They do a Christmas, like a holiday one and a spring one? Do they do? I mean, it kinda changes, so my last, so like, my senior year, we did a fall musical, a Christmas musical, Oh. We did a one act, which is like, Oh. 30 minutes, and we like, compete. Like, you do, you do competitively. With other schools? So yeah, it's like, You show your 30 minute, um, like, play, it has to be a play, and then there's like, judges, and then like, two move on to the next round, and then you do it again, and then you go to state. Okay, cool. Did you go to state? Okay, you did go to state. Now, backing up to some of these, were you ever the lead in any of these shows? Uh, yeah. Okay. So I would assume that would be the case. We did, I mean, my junior year we did for a one act we did, um, clue. Okay, cool. And that was Wadsworth. Oh, the, the Butler. Okay. And then, um, my fall. Of senior year we did. You're a good man, Charlie Brown. I'm Charlie Brown. Of course. Very nice. I think it'd be tough to come out of all the experience you've had and get cast as Tree, number one or something, or a spider in the But yeah, I'm happy that we were able to get there because I, I have found you to be painfully humble. Um, I've never experienced painful humility in my life. I knew that was going there. Well, yeah. Should we give her one of these? There you go. I'm going to have fun with that. Oh boy. Sorry everybody. Sorry listeners. But tell us about your decision for college. How did you decide? That's a long ways away. Syracuse. So tell us how that happened. Um, so I knew I wanted to go like in communications whether it be Broadcasting that was kind of my dream for a long time. And I mean looking at the top schools. That's always up there I mean they Mike Tirico and yeah kind of Northwestern and Syracuse seem to be I did some research Yeah, I prepared those are always like like that the one and two up the list So honestly, I, I applied there as my REACH school, just to like, see if I'd get in. I was planning on going to, um, Indiana University, uh, Bloomington. Go in their, um, communications program. Like on spring break last year, I heard that I got into a new house and then I hadn't even toured it yet. We booked a flight the like next day and then, um, went to Syracuse the next week to tour. Fell in love? Fell in love. I know it's like cliche. No, it's fantastic. But I honestly like, it was just everything I could have imagined and more and there's so many just great opportunities there and I mean, so many clubs that you can join that's already like professional and Absolutely. I just have to ask, Steve, was St. Cloud your reach school? Oh! That's the only one that would let me in. Okay. Okay. So it was your safety school. It was my safety. My main. Yeah. And it was just far enough away to, if I haven't mentioned it, I went to St. Thomas and that was the only school that I applied to because it was sort of like the University of Hill Murray, St. Thomas campus. True. So that felt comfortable. Yeah. Go ahead. Well, let me just say it like that's, it's amazing already to think about or interesting to think about. Um, it says something about who you are that you would decide to go to a school on your own that far away. You're a very independent person who's ready to take on that challenge. That's That's daunting. And I know this because my daughter looked at some ideas about going to Colorado and then it got closer. She's like, I, I, I can't do that. She couldn't be that far away. I think my wife would have agreed with her if she, you know, it didn't get that far, but. Um, that must have taken a lot for you to make the decision and then to commit to that decision and to go there You must have so tell us how you what was that process for you? Like think it through all that Did you know anybody going in? No, not one person. No one that's wild. I mean I was my god I I didn't want to show it but I was I was super scared. Yeah to go I mean, I've always gone to like small private schools 20, 000 so it's I mean, it's pretty big, I'd say. I mean, going there with... Is that a private school? Yeah, yeah it is. Yeah, based on the tuition that Mr. Hester back there is paying, he's like, Yes, it is quite private, thank you very much. Yeah. Okay. No, but I mean, um, going like a thousand miles away, not knowing anyone. Yeah, you can't just drive back home on the weekend, right? I mean, a lot of my friends there now, they all live in the Northeast and they can like, oh, I miss my parents. I'm just going to like go home and I just, I can't do that. Yeah. So the reason I wanted, what I wanted to talk to you about today was how that experience went for you because we all have kids that have been in college or are going to college. I have a senior in high school and she's going to Wisconsin which is far away as far as I'm concerned and my biggest fear is that they just don't make those connections right away. Like they don't find their tribe. What was your experience like? I mean, I didn't find my tribe till second semester, really. I mean, they always say, um, you know, the best way to find people is to join things and just put yourself out there in college. And like, that's a lot. And you had a good basis for it, all your theater work you've done. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And that's a, like, that saying is a lot easier said than done. I mean, it's, it's scary to put yourself out there and join things. So, yeah, I was really homesick for like, The first two months, really until parents weekend when my mom and dad came out. I was kind of lonely and... Did you have a roommate? Yeah, but we didn't really talk that much. Okay. And uh, but yeah, I mean, it was tough. I still put myself out there, joined things, but... So what did you join? So first semester, um, they have this like TV station, student run TV station called Citrus TV. Oh, get it? Orange. Yeah, they love the puns. No kidding. Oh my God. So they have like three departments. They have a news department, a sports department, and an entertainment department. So I just went to, uh, some of the meetings. I went to, it's called Cuse Tonight. Which is like a tonight show. They have a host, uh, two co hosts. There's like monologues and packages. And where is it broadcast? It's on YouTube, if you just look up. Oh, not cable, it's YouTube. Citrus TV, and it's, we film it in like, the basement of one of the dorms. Is it as cool as this studio? It's, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but it's a lot cooler. Are there bunk beds? There are no bunk beds. Well, I mean, are there 10, 000 rolled up t shirts? For soundproof? For soundproofing? No, but they have some like, special equipment. Oh, like professional equipment? Yeah, good for them. That's really cool. So you, so you joined up with the show, the, the late night show kind of? So yeah, I was, I would go to the pitch meetings. We're just, you just pitch funny ideas and monologue ideas packages. And I, I'd run camera and prompter and VTR, just trying to like, What's VTR? So, uh, like the video, the, uh, Video role. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, take a look at Mr. Production over there. I hosted my own show when I was in college. But I was dying, that would have been fantastic to have a late night show like that. Yeah. I would have loved that. We had like a video show called Whack. Whack? Yeah. That's Whack. Yeah. What was Whack? Whack was a, uh, It, we were VJs, video, basically video DJs that were, we'd go, I don't know what VJs is. Uh, you know. I didn't know what it is. See, the kids don't know what that is. Oh, yeah. Video DJ, we would shoot all around campus, me and this other guy. We had really long hair, so we were like long haired dudes with microphones. Yeah, you thought you were Eddie Vedder, I think. And we would go out and uh, just do little bumps and talk about what's going to be playing and then they would play it. They'd put the show together later, but we would just go around campus and it was great. But, I would have loved to have been a part of what you were doing. That sounds really cool. Yeah, and then second semester I actually, I was, my position was called content creator and I would go around and like interview the, just students. Asking them dumb questions, funny bits and. That was, that's like considered a package. Yeah. Very cool. Yeah. That's fun. A little, one unit of, a little funny bit that, they piece it all together and play it. So when you look back on your first year of, uh, of school, there had to have been moments, um, that were transformational for you. Like, people showed, uh, kindness to you or, or connected with you. And I would imagine that some of those events have influenced the way that you might conduct yourself next year as a sophomore knowing that they're freshmen that'll be going through the same thing that you went through. Tell us a little bit about some of those moments looking back. So I mean the main kind of switch that changed my whole college career, or just like the year, was I joined a play actually. Okay. It's for freshmen that. aren't musical theater majors. They can just, they all, I mean, all my friends did it in high school and Yeah. So it's like instead of playing varsity hockey, you're on the club hockey team. Right? Basically, yeah. I mean, that You kinda looked at me like I didn't know what I was talking about. I, I, no, I was not You gave me a look. I'm listening to our friend I saw a look. Okay. Go on. Yeah, so that was in the spring. And, um, I auditioned and it gave me something to do. And, I mean, It's kind of just one big family, because the students that run it, they were, um, they're sophomores, juniors, and seniors that did the show when they were freshmen. So you can stay in the organization. They mentor you and they boss you around a little bit. So we actually get mentors. Okay. An individual one and it's like a week where a bunch of random numbers are just texting you. You gotta just figure out who it is. Oh really? Basically like a sorority honestly. Okay. Like a hazing in a way. Kind of. We had to make like funny videos and stuff like that. That'd be kind of cool actually. Yeah. More chan more good, good kind of challenges. Yeah, not, not the bad. Stupid stuff, yeah. And then So who is your mentor? So he's a sophomore, um, his name is Asher. I mean, we did like a speed dating thing. Okay. To get to know everyone. Uh huh. So we have like two minutes in a chair and you just talk to them and you go. Along the line it took like, I mean there's like 50 people and you just had to meet everyone and then you'd make like a top 8 list on who was your favorite. Oh really? And then the mentors would make a top 8 and then... They match them. Yeah. So we're not gonna ask you where Asher was on your top 8. He was 1. You was number one? Yep. Wow. He must have put me pretty high too. Wow. That's really cool. So, I assume that you're still friends with Asher? Oh yeah. He's like, already like a brother. That's very cool. So, that warms my heart because I, just the idea of, of loneliness being that far away as a parent would kill me. Yeah. To know that you just can't, you know, I'm lucky enough that my, you know, kids went to and are going to St. Thomas right now. It's a 20 minute drive. If I want to see him, you're there in 20 minutes. Yeah. Where, you know, Mr. Esteb would have to book a flight or drive 30 hours. Yeah, there's no, it's, it's a commitment. It's a, it's a more with that, especially from the student's perspective, they're going to go that far away. Like I was saying, like, You, you can't just decide, ah, I'm not digging this. But in a way that kind of grounds you, makes you, that, that reality makes you go, Okay, then I gotta figure out how to get the best out of this, you know? Oh, exactly, I mean. So what were some of the lessons that you learned that you're gonna apply to your year of being more of a mentor than a mentee? No, yeah, so yeah, for next year I get to be a mentor, and um, I think, honestly, um, just like, being yourself and not trying to be someone to fit in. Oh? I feel like... First, like, I'm not a type of person to try and change who I am to, like, be quote unquote popular or anything. I'll I'm just gonna do me, and... I'm constantly chasing popularity. Well, I think, I mean, to this day, I still want to be popular. That's, that's, it's true, but, I will say, I'm not going to do it. Not hitting the button. I think that, that, that's telling of you because you know who you are. Not, not you John, I'm talking to Mario. You know who you are. I'm figuring it out. And so, you kinda have a sense of who you are and you know what you're about and... I know what I want and... Exactly. I don't, I don't have to change who I am for that. Yeah, that's, that's very healthy. That's awesome. So, do you still maintain, like, an official mentor mentee relationship with Asher? Yeah, so it's honestly, it's kinda like, um, families. Okay. So, like, I know his, his mentor. Oh, okay. Who is my grand mentor. Oh, I love that. And then I'll get, I'll get a mentee and then Asher will be... The Grand Mentor. That is super cool. I wish the world ran like that. They have like a family tree and everything. And there's a bunch of different families. It's actually, that organization is the biggest one on campus. That is very cool. Well it's cool because it ladders up, it's not so far ahead, it's just a year ahead of you, right? Or two years? I mean, yeah, yeah, yeah. So they're closer to your experience and they can, just ahead of it and the person ahead of them, you can kind of look up that ladder and get more advice and get more. Well and I would think that there's, you know, what a valuable experience for the mentors and the grand mentors because they've experienced things that you haven't yet experienced and you get to, uh, apply those things. Do you have a cough? No, you got me. No, you've got COVID too. I'm fine. Mario, it's coming for you, baby. No, we're good. It's coming. It's a small place. Small room. We're in a very small room. This is the most people we've ever had in here. True. At one time. Um, that little sound that you just heard was, uh, a text. Time for a break? Well, no, it was a text saying that I will text you the minute Cameron walks in the door. So what we're going to be doing in a little bit, um, our Selfless Scholar program, which we've explained several times, um, we are doing a video of the presentation of one of the scholarships at Chanhassen High School on Wednesday morning. Wow. Exciting. And the person who wrote the nomination is unaware that he was one of the people selected. So we're going to call him and surprise him and tell him that, his nomination was selected and, uh, prepare him for making a presentation on Wednesday. That's very exciting. Now, there's a lot of logistics involved in this because you have to make sure he's available, even though it's a surprise. It's, it's been quite a logistical experience. Oh my God. So we're going to get back to you in just a second, Mario. But the, so I had to contact a, a counselor at the high school. Explain to him what we were doing. He contacted the football coach, cause two, all three of the people that are, I guess you'd consider characters in this little story, are involved with the football team. It's his people. It's his people, so I'm gonna let Cam explain who he nominated, why he nominated him. You'll have a much better understanding. Back to you, Mario. So, what's the ultimate goal for Mario Astev? What do you want to be when you are as old as your dad? Retired, I would assume. You know, that's such a hard question because Well, that's why I asked. I want to just do so many things and I'm still figuring it out because I mean, I'd love to Has it, has it evolved just through your first year? Yeah. Okay. I mean, going in I wanted to be a sports broadcaster, which It's still, you know, in the back of my mind, but also, I'd love to, like, Work on a movie set one day or write a movie even so I don't know I have a lot of dreams So I can't choose one. There's nothing wrong with that Well, it all kind of it all kind of does blend together because the more you understand the more you see you can you can? Move into any region you want Especially when it comes to communications because communications is a lot of things and you start branching off meet people that do cool stuff And you'll start you know seeing what they do and joining up and it's there's no there's no limit Even my major has so many, like, limits. I mean, television, radio, and film. That's like, almost all of media. Yeah. We met, uh, with Kevin Gorg, uh, over, I think it was a Christmas break? Yeah. I remember there was a lot of snow on the ground, and we talked about, you know... Could've been April, too, right here. It could have been April. I'll let you think of it. Um... But we talked to him about, the opportunities in sports broadcasting. He brought up a point that I hadn't even thought of. There's not really even a local sports broadcaster that's under 30 years old. You gotta do a lot of work to, to, to even get an opportunity to do a local broadcast, much less a national. And he described the fact, I wish he was on with us tonight. He's apparently... On the boat tonight on location, on location, on the boat, whatever. Um, he and Anthony LaPanta, like 20 years ago, started doing high school hockey games for cable access. And now Anthony LaPanta has one of what 30 jobs in the. entire country, you know, being the, the play by play guy for an NHL team. But I mean, I don't think he got that job until he was 40 something. Well, you know, as much as I do, John, it's, it's follow your passion and, and work on your network and get to know people. And I graduated the TV production degree at St. Cloud. My goal was to, I first wanted to be like a camera person and just get a job doing that kind of stuff. And then it was like production and movies and all that stuff. Got out of that. I'd left, played and traveled in a band for 20 years, fell backwards into a production job after that. And like I worked on a movie set for one summer and then fell backwards into a production job at a corporate company. And I loved it. I, I was, it's just, I was open to all those kinds of things and my, without my network of friends going, Hey, you know, what did you see? You know, it's. It's, it's a big deal. Your friends and your network and your, your interests will drive that. So just stay open and keep moving. And what I think is cool about Syracuse, because of the, the success that many of its alum have had over the years, just that network's gotta be outrageous. Oh yeah, I mean like, Trico is just there for graduation and... Okay. I mean, sometimes they make surprise visits. I've heard, I haven't seen it yet, but, yeah. So, this is the Kindness Chronicles, and when I was talking to your, uh, mother last week, um, she mentioned the fact that you ran into somebody somewhat famous on the, uh, on the campus of Syracuse. That's right. And it was a very delightful experience for all involved. Tell us about that little experience and, uh, I just think that it's, I love these stories. Yeah, so it was, it was my parents last day moving me in. And, I mean, we were all... Oh, right away, early in the... Yeah, we were all, we were all sad, kinda down. Yeah. Um, and my sister wanted us to get her, um, like, a Syracuse t shirt or something. So we go into this shop, and Mark Wahlberg... Walks in because Marky Mark Marky Mark, he's Hey, how's your mother? He's on a tour with his daughter I think Or some, I don't know, some with his daughter And, you know, I mean he's known for kinda being A good dude Yeah, but also like in movies he's kinda badass Oh yeah So I was, I mean He's kind of intimidating, I feel. So he's got good guns. He's got good pipes. Yeah. So he always used to take his shirt off in every movie. So Yeah, I guess that's, I usually do that during every podcast, but we're not gonna do that cuz there's, you know, young people. Yeah. I'm not a fan of it either. I know. Go on go on Mario. So it's, it's like a it's a smaller store and you know, he's like on the phone and my mom of course goes up to him. He's like, can we get a picture with you? And he's like, yeah, yeah, of course. Uh, shakes my hand, asks for my name. Uh, we get a picture, and then, you know, Five minutes later, my parents want a picture with him, too. So, we get one, we ask again, my dad's like, Hey, sorry, like, can we get another one? He's like, yeah, of course. And then I'm taking a picture, and then he looks at my shoes, And he's like, hey Mario, So he remembered your name. He remembered my name, he said, I love those shoes, I have those at home. And I was like, oh my god, like, Mark Wahlberg just said my name. And he walked out, and... Yeah, it was just, it was super cool. So does his, does his daughter go there? Or is she... I don't think she does. Okay. I think she... I, I they're touring. Yeah, I think they're touring. Okay. That's really cool. She's probably going to end up at St. Cloud State. If everything works out for her. There you go. Oh, wow. Oh my god. People are turning off the podcast now. Yeah, I don't know how to stop this one. Okay, it just keeps going. That is really cool to hear that, that, you know, he was kind to you guys and gave you time. Oh no, I didn't do that. Ah. We're gonna have to edit this out. I don't know how to stop it. Is it still going? Do another one. Is it stuck? Oh no. You know what? We'll be back after this message. Alright, we're back. We had a little technical malfunction. We won't be pushing that button ever again. Um, yeah, we're gonna put a big X on that one. Do not touch. What were we talking about? Oh, Mark Wahlberg. Mark Wahlberg and, uh, a Mario encounter and family. That was cool. Have you run into any other famous people while you've been there? Donovick McNabb went to, like, the basketball game, but I didn't, like, see him. And, like, DeMar Hamlin went to the... Syracuse Duke game. Oh yeah. Was he a Syracuse grad? No. Okay. But they, they always try and get a star. You went to pit. I think they always try and get a star for the Syracuse. Oh, that's very cool. Alright. I have a little piece of audio that I'd like to play Steve, talk a little bit about, uh, oxytocin. So, um, so talk about it often. I came. Hot after being a guest on the show. I I jumped in as a co host with with Kevin and and John here because I'm I'm fascinated with kindness and compassion and what it does as a as a Physical element. So what it does is it gives you a shot of oxytocin, right? So we're naturally built to be community be in community and Simon Sinek Is, is a guy that explained this to me and I was like, Oh, that's so fascinating. So I brought it to these guys and this is literally the clip that I heard him talking about it. And it's, I think it's in his book as, as well, here's that audio. Act of kindness, act of generosity, is how simple it is to make people feel good. I was walking down the streets of New York City, and a guy walking in front of me, his backpack opened and a bunch of paper fell out on the, on the street. I didn't think much of it, I bent down, I gathered up the papers, handed them back to him, and pointed out that his, his bag had opened. Now in our bodies there's a chemical called oxytocin. Oxytocin is responsible for all the warm and fuzzies, unicorns and rainbows. It's responsible for all the warm feelings and connectedness we have with each other. Friendship. Love. Huge amounts of oxytocin surge through a woman's body as she gives birth. This is what is responsible for the mother child bond. Oxytocin binds human beings. There are many ways to get oxytocin. One of them is acts of kindness and acts of generosity. It feels good when we do something nice for someone, it feels good when someone does something nice for us. On this particular day, I did something for someone with no expectation of anything in return. I got a little surge of oxytocin. I felt good. He turned to me and he said, Thank you. It feels nice when someone does something for us with no expectation of anything in return. He felt good. I walked to the end of the street, I'm waiting to cross the street, and a total stranger, who happened to be standing next to me, said, I saw what you did back there, that was really cool. As it turns out, witnessing an act of generosity, releases oxytocin, and he felt good. And the best part about oxytocin is the more oxytocin we have in our bodies, the more generous we become. It is Mother Nature's way of trying desperately to get us to look after each other. I can guarantee you that that man who witnessed what I did, did something nice for somebody that day, simply because he saw someone do something nice for somebody that day. So what if we commit to do something nice for someone, with no expectation of anything in return? Imagine what happens at work, imagine what happens at home, imagine what happens with our friends. But it must be genuine. And that's why Simon Sinek has 7 million followers. Isn't that just a great message? I mean, that is, that's Simon Sinek, the quintessential, at least what I grabbed from him, that I love to share with people because it's so fascinating. And I think that it really applies, you know, when I think about the way that, uh, The organization that you're a part of has organized itself is to, you know, to have these mentors and it feels good to be a mentor. It feels really good to be a mentee especially when you're struggling to connect with people and you know, there's a, uh, there's just a, uh, it's kind of a ripple effect that, uh, that, that, uh, that comes of that. I just got pinged. Here we go. That the young man that we're gonna be calling is, uh, is home. So I am going to make this phone call right now. This is live. Okay. And it's gonna be a surprise and, uh, here we go. Hello. I'm looking for a Cameron Zurich. Oh, yes, we happen to have a Cameron Zurich. Well, then I called the right place. Let me hand you over to him. Here he is. Alright. Yo, this is Cameron. Yo Cameron! So, my name is John Schweitz and I am with an organization called Minnesota Masonic Charities and, uh, you are on live, uh, our program is called The Kindness Chronicles. I'm here with, uh, Steve Brown, who uh, graduated from St. Cloud State, which apparently your father graduated from St. Cloud State. Yeah. Oh, really? Yo, yo. That's cool. And Mario Esteb, who is a student at Syracuse University, and I'm calling to congratulate you. You might recall a couple of months ago, you wrote a nomination for a uh, a selfless scholarship for your friend Tyler Smith, and uh, we received uh, hundreds of nominations. And, uh, your story was one of the 16 that was selected to be awarded a Selfless Scholarship. Really? Oh my god, thank you, thank you, I'm gonna be so happy, that's awesome. But we can't tell them, yet, because Wednesday morning we're going to have a, uh, a video crew there. And, uh, during your win period, is that what it's called? Win? What I need period, um, I believe your football coach is, uh, calling a meeting of the football team. Oh, yeah. And, uh, we're going to give you the opportunity to, uh, to present your pal with a, uh, 2, 500 scholarship. Wow. Okay. That's awesome. So it's very cool. Thank you. So while we have you on the line, Cam, now literally you didn't know about this. Your dad didn't spill the beans. No, not at all. Well, that's good. I was like, yeah. I was like, what's going on? Why? Who's calling? So, Cam, tell us a little bit about, um, one, what it was that compelled you to, to write this story. Why it is that you picked Tyler and, just tell us a little bit about that story. Of course. Yep. All right. So this kid, Tyler Smith, has always been an inspiration to me and, uh, all my friends. He's one of my friends as well. He's just such a great kid on the football field, hockey, and just, in general with people and last year, especially he was a great kid to everyone, like no matter who they were, if they're Like mean to him, he's never mean back. He's always a great kid. And one example that really stood out to me was, our, football manager, Wesley, he was beyond the best person to him. Like great friend. Tell us about Wesley real quick. Yeah. Wesley, has, special needs and, has been battling through that over his entire lifetime. but he's always loved football and he just is always like, love the game and want to be a part of it. So our football coach gave him the opportunity and he earned the opportunity, of course, to become the team manager for our football team. And one example that Tyler Smith did for him and it was his idea. was, um, he decided that with, um, our head coach, football coach, that it would be a great idea to, when we played, um, against Bloomington Jefferson, um, but, um, we played against them, um, at the TCO stadium and it was a really cool game and everything, but at halftime. The idea was that Wesley could go score a touchdown, and it was really amazing, and it was a great experience that Wesley is going to remember for the rest of his life. And I would imagine the people witnessing it. Oh my god, absolutely. Oh my god, you have no idea. Everyone is so happy, yeah. And um, it was all Tyler and, Tyler and Coach's idea, and it's, I don't know, I just, I was... I just really stood out to me and I was like, wow, I should really do it for him. So. One of the things, uh, Cam, that we, and you go by Cam, right? Is that, your dad gave me permission to call you Cam, not Cam. Um, one of the things that we talk about on this program is, the importance of making others feel like they matter. And when you've got a, when you've got a guy that's going to a huge high school like Chanhassen and they've got special needs, just how important it is to have a guy like. Tyler, who makes a guy like Wesley feel like they matter. You mentioned that, that you, you also discovered that Tyler's friendship is so genuine that he participated in a special event with Wesley? Oh, yes. Tell us about that and how you found out. So, um... Okay, yeah, so Wesley Got Eagle scout or whatever. Eagle scout award. Yep. Yep. So I really big for him and he was super excited about it. Um, and. I had no idea about it at all, but then I saw on Tyler's social media on his Instagram that he went to the award ceremony for Wesley, and Wesley was like over beyond excited, obviously, and it was just a great example of just how Tyler is as a person, um, and it was really cool to see that he even like went out of his way to post it, you know what I mean? Like, no, who would really do that, right? And I was just like, I mean, that's a great example, because Wesley's working so hard for that, and Tyler wanted to be there for him, and also, not to mention, Tyler Smith, um, went to Wesley's birthday party, uh, right before that, and he's just like, always been there for him, like, no matter what, if he's busy or not, he's always the guy right there with him, you know, like, if he needs anything, he's there, like, he literally drove him, The practice almost every day and back. Wow. We went to buy him food after practice. Like, went complete out of his way. He used his own money, used everything of his own for just this one kid. I mean, it's amazing. Yeah, we, uh, just before we got on the line with you, we played a little piece from a guy named Simon Sinek. And Simon Sinek does these TED Talks. And the one that we played, he specifically talks about, Oxytocin. And Steve, Steve is our oxytocin manager here, our oxytocin specialist. But explain, uh, explain to Cam how oxytocin works and how clearly Cam has been given a dose of oxytocin from what he's witnessed, Tyler. Yeah, so oxy, oxytocin is the whole, uh, the, the shot of, uh, happiness, happiness hormone makes you feel connected and makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside by doing good things for people. But you also Get that, um, if it, if it, if an act of kindness is done for you and if you witness that act of kindness. So that stadium full of people, when, when Tyler helped create that moment, that whole stadium was flowing with oxytocin. That's, that's what gives us all the chills, makes us all feel good about it. And that guy created a moment for that kid. Do you know, is that, is that touchdown on video somewhere? Did somebody capture that moment? Oh, absolutely. I bet there has to be. I could try to find that for you if you want. We would like that because. Um, you know, our objective... It's also in the paper, so... Oh, it was. Okay. Yeah. That is very cool. Now you are a junior in high school? I am, yeah. And is Tyler also a junior? He is, yep. Okay. He is a junior as well. So, I understand that the Chanhassen football team has aspirations next year to, uh, to play indoors in November. Is there... Behind that. Absolutely. Okay. Oh, absolutely. Yeah. Who's the, we're we're, who's the biggest hurdle? Who's the team that's going to, uh, keep you from, from, uh, from, no, nobody. Nobody. OK. But I could give you example though. Yes, absolutely. There's two teams that have really stood out over the past couple years. Um, Mankato West. Oh, I hate those guys. They didn't crush us, but they beat us by two points, uh, unfortunately, uh, to get into or. Session finals game. Uh, and it crushed us, but so, but we play the hardest schedule. In the league, um, this, this year, and we play them, their next door neighbors, um, Mankato East, and the reigning, uh, champions, Elk River, which is their first game at home. So I'm really excited about it. Or is it at home? I don't know. I don't know. It's in in Elk River. It's in Elk River. So I, I just have to tell you my, um, my oldest son, um, they made it to the state championship. His junior, or not state championship. The state tournament and his senior year, they had the greatest team, not absolutely the most talented football players. I mean, there was obviously some, some talent there, but it was such a great team. Like the vibe was family. Absolutely. I mean, the vibe was very, And when I hear about the way that, uh, the Chanhassen football team kind of conducts itself, it sounds very similar. Oh, absolutely. The bad news is, we made it into the state tournament, so there were eight teams left. And the first game... Was at Farmington High School, which has got a beautiful outdoor football field. And we ran into Mankato West. And, and let's just say, It did not go very well. So, that was the last game of the season for the Matamitai Zephyrs. But, also, Yeah, yeah, yeah, so that was the last game for the Matamitai Zephyrs. We, we got a new sound bar here. Yeah, sorry. Um, and then, Elk River, my kids growing up for years played against Elk River, and they run that stupid triple option offense, and it's so boring, but it works, it's so hard to defend. Um, so, I hope you beat them, I hope you beat Mankato West, and we'll see you, uh, around Thanksgiving in the Dome, or the U. S. Bank Stadium. At the base. Sure will. Yep. So, um, I was watching the championship last year and I totally agree. It's so boring, but they're losing a lot of their, uh, starting guys. So not that that matters cause we'd win anyway, but I think, uh, that's gonna be a helper for us. So you have confidence. That's good. Confidence is important. Now Cam, what position do you play? I'm a tight end. Okay. I know you're a, a, a strapping young man. I've seen some pictures of you. You're a, a tall drink of water. I actually saw some prom pictures of you. I was, uh, creeping on you on, uh, social media. And, uh... You apparently know how to pick girls cause, uh, she's an attractive lass. Thank you. Mission accomplished, Cam. Mission accomplished. Just like your dad. Your dad, you know, he always had, uh, good fortune when it came to the gals. No, why would I say that? I don't know. He used to have a glorious head of hair. Like you. I remember seeing pictures. We know how that's turned out. With a little perm and everything. Oh yeah, sorry Duke. Do you guys, I got Steve and Mario here, do either of you have any questions for Cam? I, I just, my only thing was, um, get ready for a pretty cool event. And, uh, you gotta keep this quiet until, until then. So you can't tell Tyler about this. I, I, I'm looking forward to it. We're hoping to capture the oxytocin flow that morning and, uh, we have aspirations for this story to blow up into something big, but congratulations, Cam. Uh, don't tell Tyler because we're gonna surprise him. And, uh, and I'm hoping that, uh, that Wesley will be there and, uh, maybe some surprise guests. Awesome. All right. Sounds good. All right. Thank you guys so much. All right. Thanks, Cam. Congrats again. See you later. Thank you. Bye bye. Well, he was a nice kid. Yeah. Yeah. The enthusiasm is very real. Yeah. Which is cool. So, as we proceed, we will hear more about that event. Looking forward to it. And, uh, Mario, I want to thank you for coming in and telling us about your, uh, your experience. Final words of wisdom for, uh a person that's going to college for the first time. My daughter should be listening to this. I'm not sure that she's one of our subscribers, but she ought to be. What advice would you have for a freshman that doesn't really know many people going to the school they're going to? I think just know that, all these kids are going through what you're going through too. I think I thought I was the only one that was feeling homesick when everyone else, found their people. But, It's a learning curve and now that I have more friends talking to them, they all went through it, first semester, so. And in a weird way, the whole misery loves company thing. Yeah. It's no fun at the time, but just to know that you're not alone, that others are going through the exact same thing, just is such an important deal. That's humanity, right? Um, what do you have planned for the summer? Cause I know that, you're off school now. I know, I, I, I saw you golf the other day, and, you know, Mario's not the biggest guy. But my God, can he hit a golf ball a ton. It's just not fair. It's not fair. Thank you, I appreciate that. Like, I must be all that youthful flexibility. Yeah, he's a great golfer. Dude. Great golfer. That's great. So, what are you going to do this summer? I mean, probably get a job. Probably get a job. That sounds very promising. What do you think, Dad? He's like, uh, I hope so. Um, when my son Jack was a, it was during a, The COVID year, I think he played 150 rounds of golf that summer. Really? It was a good summer. So maybe that could be your job. Yeah. Golf pro cultivating your golf, uh, your golf expertise. It's tricky. You don't want to get anything too deep. Cause you gotta be able to jump, you know, to school, right? You're going back. So you can't really. Dig in too deep and anything so you got to pick up some landscaping or you know, I don't know Maybe we he could become a kindness Chronicles intern and help you figure out how to put this stuff on video. That'd be great Let's do that. Okay, so you two need to talk. All right, cuz I'm out I have no interest or ability. I'm slowly gathering photos and all these you know things but I I don't sound like I don't know how to put it on there, but I have to, I don't, I need help. Let's be honest. Uh oh. Who's this calling? We'll have to edit that out. Sorry, I can't talk right now. Um, all right. Anything else? Yeah. Go ahead. The Kindness Chronicles, right? Be kind. It costs nothing, but means everything. yeah, I got crickets. Alright, and off we go. Bye guys.