The Prequel
What is your origin story? Throughout our lives, our stories intersect with the people we meet. What sometimes gets lost in the chaos of life is that our stories go much further than we can ever realize. On this podcast, listen to the stories of people with incredible journeys. We know where they stand now. But how did they get there? Who were the people that pointed them in the right direction? How about the people who pointed them in the wrong direction?Join Mike Azzalina as he digs a bit deeper with guests to explore their prequels. And, more importantly, Mike and his guests will visit the ways in which they are paying it forward and impacting the origin stories of others."The Prequel" is a reflective, storytelling journey to help motivate and inspire you to use your own story to bring kindness, passion, and love to influence the stories of so many others.
Episodes
24 episodes
Chapter 24: Thorns and Petals
While doing some yard work, Mike was poked by a thorn on his wife's rose bush. When he stepped back because of the pain, he was struck by the bush's beauty.Life comes with amazing moments, but also comes with its fair share of pain and ...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 4
•
12:50
Chapter 23: Move Slowly
"I wish there was more time in the day." A phrase we have all uttered more than once in our lives is Mike's focus in this week's episode. He reflects on his younger days when being the first one done or getting onto the next thing was a...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 3
•
11:46
Chapter 22: Don't Fear the Spotlight
Join Mike for another episode as he takes a look why we fear being in the spotlight throughout our lives. As an introvert, Mike can find many moments that being the center of attention has made him nervous. However, he has come to learn that ev...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 2
•
12:42
Chapter 21: What's Important to You?
As human beings, it is very easy to get caught up being a cog in the wheel of helping others accomplish what is important to them. In this episode, Mike reminds us to be the wheel. His message is simple: Do what is important to YOU! The questio...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 1
•
12:42
Chapter 20: Toxic Positivity
On this episode of "The Prequel", Mike answers a question he is asked very often. How do we avoid the idea of "Toxic Positivity" or trying to force others to only feel positive emotions despite what their experiences are. He dives into the diff...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 10
•
11:02
Chapter 18: The Beginner in Us
Mike spends this episode of "The Prequel" pushing an important reminder. As life presents us new opportunities, we have all sorts of emotions attached to them. We might feel nervous, excited, joy, thrill, and more. Being a beginner comes with a...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 9
•
10:04
Chapter 18: Time to Reflect
We are back for another episode of "The Prequel" and Mike is looking back to look ahead. He reminds us that sometimes in life, reflection can take us further than rushing too far ahead of ourselves. The ability to slow down and understand the e...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 8
•
10:54
Chapter 17: Work in Progress
"The Prequel" is back and taking a look at our measure of perfection. Mike walks us through toward the idea that we are forever a work in progress. He challenges us to never stop working on ourselves and discusses ways in which he has been able...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 7
•
10:23
Chapter 16: Be Limitless
On this week's episode of "The Prequel," Mike reflects on the limitless opportunities we have each day to make a difference in the world. How do we take advantage of it? Are we scared of taking the steps we have to take? Do our thoughts get in ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 8
•
7:19
Chapter 15: Be the One
Another week and another episode of "The Prequel" is here! In this episode, Mike focuses on how we can be someone's favorite person. He discusses one of his favorite songs and the ways in which we can live out the important lyrics in simple way...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 7
•
7:53
Chapter 14: Weight of the Challenge
Mike is back with another episode of "The Prequel" for us to consider how to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. In this episode, he takes a look at the challenges that we face. Do we carry the mountains with us or try to climb ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 6
•
7:31
Chapter 13: Choices
On this episode of "The Prequel," Mike is in his Harry Potter Era. As he finished off the first book awhile back, a quote stuck out to him. Mike takes a close look at the ways that the choices we make define our character far more than our abil...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 5
•
8:29
Chapter 12: Be Yourself
"Your time is limited. Don't waste it trying to be someone else." Steve Jobs said it best. And Mike is off and running in this week's episode about why it is so important to be authentic. Mike explores times in his own life that he put on a mas...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 4
•
10:57
Chapter 11: Reach Out
For some of us, asking for help is perhaps one of life's most difficult challenges. For whatever reason, when we are faced with a challenge that takes a lot of energy, we are more likely to let ourselves become frustrated than we are seek out h...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 3
•
8:57
Chapter 10: Be Ready to Adjust
Mike is back with another episode this week for all of us to reflect on when we might need to adjust. Life will change at the drop of the hat. The expected will become the unexpected. In order to write our stories in the most productive ways, w...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 2
•
11:07
Chapter 9: Dealing with Uncertainty
The Prequel is back for another season, but Mike has changed the game just a bit. He wants to give you short snippets of thoughts to start each week. While he enjoyed the interviews and hearing the stories of others, this season is dedicated to...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 1
•
13:45
Chapter 8: Michele Capots
Join Mike as he talks to Michele Capots, transformational coach, speaker, and storyteller. Michele's work around mental health and resilience is making a difference with all of her clients. Her story gives us a glimpse into how we can take our ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 8
•
50:55
Chapter 7: Lorna Hollifield
Join Mike as he sits down with Lorna Hollifield, the author of The Ocean at Night and Tobacco Sun. She is currently the editor of Charleston Women Magazine. The two discuss the challenging world of writing, how Lorna'...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 7
•
48:08
Chapter Six: Jaimie Beebe
What an episode! Mike sits down with Jaimie Beebe, a casting director, podcast host, and founder of The Boyfriend Bikini. Jaimie lets us into the world of being a casting director, but perfectly ties it to how those experiences affect the stori...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 6
•
57:55
Chapter 5: Dominique "Dom" Brightmon
Join Mike in his most recent conversation with author and podcaster, Dominique "Dom" Brightmon. The two explore all things podcasting and writing, while Dom challenges listeners to stop comparing themselves to others and a different version of ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 5
•
1:00:20
Chapter 4: Rita Farruggia
Join Mike as he welcomes Rita Farruggia the founder and CEO of www.happybeingwell.com to "The Prequel" for episode four. Mike and Rita dig into how and why her website went from vision to the real deal. Rita shares the purpose behind what she d...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 4
•
54:08
Chapter 3: Wyatt Eaton
On this week's episode, Mike is joined by fellow Elizabethtown College Blue Jay, Wyatt Eaton. While Mike and Wyatt were on campus at the same time, it was not until after college that their prequels really aligned. They have bonded over their l...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 3
•
51:04
Chapter 2: Michelle Dickinson
Join Mike as he welcomes his first guest, Michelle Dickinson, an educator resiliency coach to discuss her role and how she was led to this path.Mike and Michelle discuss the challenges that educators have been facing post pandemic. She ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 2
•
45:52
Chapter One: The Purpose
On the premier episode of "The Prequel" Mike Azzalina introduces himself and why stories are so incredibly important to him. He explains that this is a show to help others tell their own stories in order to bring light to the people and experie...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 1
•
22:28