The "What's Going On?" Podcast
Think casual, relatable discussions like you'd overhear in a barbershop. Conversations and commentaries from the common-person perspective, a mix of diverse topics and perspectives. The conversations will seamlessly pivot between politics, music, sports, and pop culture. Our goal is to be inclusive and inviting, a broad appeal, non-pundit vibe, and memorable.
The "What's Going On?" Podcast
Taylor Townsend, Tariffs and Teaching
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
This episode is a blend of sports, social issues, and education, providing a thought-provoking dialogue.
They discuss the NFL careers of Shedeur and Shiloh Sanders, touching on the challenges and biases they face and the Manning family's legacy. The conversation takes a deeper turn as the trio examine issues of racial bias and opportunities in the NFL, paralleling it with past events involving Colin Kaepernick. Switching gears, the hosts explore the recent controversy in tennis involving Taylor Townsend and her opponent's post-match comments. They discuss the emotional toll on athletes and the pressures they face in high-stakes games
Furthermore, they explore the impact of tariffs on inflation and the broader implications for the economy.
Finally, the episode takes a look at Tom's journey as a substitute PE teacher and his efforts to engage students in activities like tennis and swimming.
Join the insightful and diverse conversation in this thought-provoking episode!
This episode is a blend of sports, social issues, and education, providing a thought provoking dialogue. Listen, as we discuss the NFL careers of Shedeur and Shiloh Sanders, touching on the challenges and the biases they face in the Manning family legacy, the conversation takes a deeper turn as they examine issues of racial bias and opportunities in the NFL. Paralleling it with past events involving Colin Kaepernick. Switching gears the hosts explore a recent controversy in tennis involving Taylor Townsend and her opponent's post match comments. They discussed the emotional toll on athletes and the pressures they face in high state games. Furthermore. We explore the impact of tariffs on inflation and a broader implication for the economy. Finally, the episode takes a deeper look at Tom's journey as a substitute PE teacher and his efforts to engage students activities like tennis and swimming. Join the insightful and diverse conversation in this thought provoking episode.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521What's going on? Keith Pickens.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554What's going on tc? What's going on, Mike?
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Hey, tc. Hey, Keith. Squabble up. Squabble up. Squabble up.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Oh my gosh.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Sorry, tc.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521I,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554I jumped the gun on that one. I should have let you say hello, Mike.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Say that. I've been waiting all day.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Oh my goodness. What are we doing here?
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Having fun, apparently. Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521talk. There we go.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Did you guys see that, I don't know if this is the internet, but apparently Joy Reid, Rachel Maddow and Stephen Colbert started a new media company.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Correct.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554I did. I don't know any of the particulars, but I did see the headline
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521is what I saw.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554yeah.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521I don't know
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521I don't know who's backing it. I don't know platform. I just saw that and I just wasn't sure if you guys have seen
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554That's a powerful trio. I'm sure they're getting backing from somewhere. They got a lot to say.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521I totally agree.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521and Rachel Maddow, she's a bulldog.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554She's all about it. She just says what she means and means what she says. Without apologies, that's all.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Sports World, The Sanders Brothers. Shedeur is now third string, is that correct? He went from being fourth, and now he's third string Behind Joe Flacco on the Cleveland Browns,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554I believe he is third string.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521I haven't seen any of his performances. I just seen highlights. Have you guys seen them in action?
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554I watched him with the Buffaloes.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah, I
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554I watched pretty regularly with the Buffaloes, but yeah I'm like you, I just, saw highlights. I read some of the, and listened to some of the hype and apparently that first outing he did really well. And then he got hurt the second time around, before the second opportunity.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Right.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554And I'm not sure if they're just judging him on that one. Time out in training, of course, in practice. But yeah, I think what you're looking at. Is the experience factor in terms of having the second string in front of him is flaco in front of him?
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Flaco was a starter.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Who's in front of Shedeur?
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521The guy's name.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554We could find out.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yep.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554I think there's a lot to it. It's really hard to assess it from the standpoint of how he was drafted, whether or not there's some mess in the game, or is he just really a rookie who has to learn his way and earn his way. The Sanders name where you would think it would be helpful, like the Manny name it's more of a, it seems like a curse than a blessing.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521It's funny you say that, Keith. It's absolutely saying, it seemed like that within the social media, realm, The Manny's are royalty And the Sanders are entitled.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah. They always flip the script though. That's American culture. It's, unfortunately totally ingrained in our culture and real or imagined. That's just, the way it is. The young guy Archie Manning, I saw a little bit of his first game and, he looked fresh just like Shedeur looks fresh. They're both starting something new but he's got the pedigree his dad was a quarterback, his uncle was a quarterback, his uncle's quarterbacks. And Dion obviously was a great ball player and a baseball and football player. But he just didn't get the same love. He's obviously a lot more flashy than the manning family. It's just, the culture Embraces those who don't look necessarily like us if I'm keeping it real. But skills are gonna bear out at the end of the day. They're both gonna have to show up because nobody's gonna be accepting of a quarterback who can't get the job done. I don't know. And don't think that they could necessarily blacklist this kid. And when I say this kid, Shedeur, if he has the skills to pull it off but they're not gonna make it easy for him, that's for sure.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521I'll just put it this way, like you said, Keith if they have the skills, both of the sons, if they have the skills that's gonna shine through, You can't deny skill. But now are they gonna get the opportunity To show those skills?
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Right.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Not just do you have the skills? You going to get the opportunity And yeah. Does stuff go on in nfl? It always has.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yes.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521New. And from what I heard in the media, at least one of the guys from ESPN Fox Sports said, yeah, they did collude
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521to not draft.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554No Shedeur.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Shedeur, Not draft him. Really, in other words, put him in his place we are not going to, he have the skills? I didn't see enough of them, to say that he does. If he does have the skills, they will shine through. He'll get his opportunity
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Conventional wisdom suggests that he does have the skills. Tom Brady, who's allegedly the goat, and most people would say it is his mentor, although the team that he has a stake in, didn't draft Shedeur. The football players, the professional football players and some that wear yellow jackets suggest that he should be able to succeed in the NFL. But then again, you have to see him in action. You have to see him on the field. The game does speed up. We know that. But to your point, there has to be an opportunity. When you said Collude, that really made me think about Colin Kaepernick. It had to come up, it had to come up Tom and how a talent like that could be totally ignored. And so when you, what do you say Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles would've been able to see that one coming. When you let a talent like that go, that suggests that everybody colluded, and as much as it hurts me to admit it, that includes that the Detroit Lions, the ownership said, hands off whether or not it was the commissioner who directed the owners. But in this case, I don't know how that walks. You got a lot of black GMs. I don't think you have any black, I know Venus and Serena has a stake in the Miami Dolphins, or they used to, but you don't have any real, primary owners that are African American or of another ethnicity. But I don't know how you line that up legally. It is strange. We do know that Archie Manning at some point, even though he's just starting his college career. We'll probably have a cakewalk. Based on his merit, obviously, whether or not he'd show up.'cause if he's no good, it's not gonna matter. But if he's good, he won't have the same issue that Shedeur had. That's for sure. It is always about race.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah, so let me just go ahead and insert real fast. The starter is Joe Flacco, and the rookies are Dylan Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. then they traded Kenny Pickett to Vegas, They released Tyler Huntley.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Correct. That sounds right.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521The whole Shiloh incident, It was an automatic ejection.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554I think the rules are different. Now, when I say that, I'm not saying that Shiloh. Should have automatically made any team, because to my understanding, he wasn't drafted. But, just because of the Sanders name, the rules were a little tougher on him. I could be wrong. That's just my opinion, sitting here in the barbershop I think he had a lot more to prove and the rope was not as long. He got into some type of altercation with the other team, and that was enough for them to say, you know what, we're not gonna put up with this. You, you gotta go. Did he have the saying makeup and skillset as his brother Shedeur? No. He wasn't being touted nearly the same.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Players are not anyway, though,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554yeah, at the position he played, you have some strong safeties and corners, it's not a sexy position, so you're not gonna talk about'em as much, but in terms of being able to rank'em and determine whether or not they're a fit for your team,
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah, I think that if his skillset was such, you would've had a lot of people probably trying to pick him up. He had a mountain to climb anyway he could, ill afford to make any mistakes especially because of his name, especially because he was not drafted. So he's a sanders. The chain or the rope was short. He made a mistake and they got rid of him. I don't know if he's been picked up since, but the team that he was trying out for, let him go.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521But now here's something I saw was probably within the last two days or so. He actually a swing on a guy and that was what it was
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah. Buffalo bill player
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Buffalo Beer player, it's not
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521a game?
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah. Do,
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521preseason
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554preseason.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521So the play was over with, and they were going back, shoving each other, for 10 yards, and he was probably just, taking advantage of a rookie. And for whatever reason, he drew back and tried to swing at the guy. Hit the helmet or missed him or whatever. But so that whole thing is not tolerated,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554no, you can't.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Is anybody
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554you can't do that.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah. So that's the essence of what happened for Shiloh. So now, at the same time you trying to cut down the roster,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554That made it easy.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521made it easy.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521That made
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554That made it easy.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521roster.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah. You don't need hotheads.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Michael Irving has a theory that says, okay, you cut him now early, You bring him back for the practice squad, and then if you need, you bring him up. So there's opportunity for him to go somewhere, potentially,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah. And while you were looking I was picking in and his attitude is that, if I can't make it in the NFL and I'm not gonna sweat it either way. There's always, he said modeling for him a career in music and other, so he is not hanging his hat on football. So you know that, and I don't know if that points to a lack of absolute passion. And when I say passion, do whatever you can at any cost to get to that point
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Right.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554or, it's just the fact that he's been a part of a football family is something that he enjoys. Maybe he doesn't love it as much as his dad and his brother. An opportunity, it didn't pan out. And he's saying, you know what, if I get picked up by somebody, good, great. If I don't, there's other things I can do.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521And then with the Sanders name, the doors will open
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554It will open. He'll be fine.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah. Doors will
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554It'll be fine.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Let's over to. The light wave sport tennis.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554The lightweight, how dare you Mike. Talk to this guy.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521man,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Mike ex, explain to him what this sport is all about. This is a great sport.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521I tore up my shoulder playing tennis, man. Tore my bicep playing tennis.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Ah, ain't no lightweight.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Hey I commit to, a couple, few hours, a week and sometimes a day depending on who I'm watching enjoying tennis on tv. It's a great sport. I wouldn't call it life, especially when you see the purses, when you see the money they make from one tournament to the next. They get paid pretty hefty.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Mike, what's your take on the whole controversy of Taylor Townsend and her opponent Making a comment of, not educated, you have no class.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Okay. Tennis players, when they lose, especially at that When they lose, they just, they go into a whole nother, they'll say anything. Look at what what's her name said a few weeks ago she lost and she talked about, wasn't it Coco Goff or
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554what's that coffee
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521really when tennis, my point Players at that level Able to say anything, especially at a press conference right after a Really don't have enough time to decompress,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554They're emotional.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521They're Call her racist,
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Taylor didn't either.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Because Taylor would know more, room. They ladies know each other. They And who's not. So I would not call her racist. What she said was unfortunate and Taylor, but here's the deal. Taylor handled it with class.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Absolutely.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521she did.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521goodness.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yes.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yes.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521that squashed the whole thing.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521She handled it with such Both on the court and at the That, nobody could say anything, It is what it is. And
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521it very well.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521and be told, I guess I forgot the title, they called it number one Tennis mom or something.'Cause she got the lady's doubles tennis title. They were number one, her and her partner. And then she's doing so well. I hated to see her lose
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah. It would've been a great story.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yep.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521really cheering for her.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yes.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521and she was up'cause she won the first set,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah. She did. And that tie breaker. She had a break. And I tell you what.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Doing very well.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yes, she was.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521It with class
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521she showed the world, she's gonna keep on moving on and Gonna get more positive endorsements. I, for lack of a better word, More positive endorsements out of that than anything. Handle
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Absolutely.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521That's it.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521I totally agree with you, Mike. I was very impressed. I had never heard her name before
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521She been around.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554She has.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Is about time she got some recognition,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554yeah. She's a good,
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521moving up,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554she's a good player. She is a good player. Yep.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521watched her
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Uhhuh.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521a match
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521very, I was like, they were, Going at it.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521yeah.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521at it and,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554yeah.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521she just did well, round four. She Going at it, her and her opponent,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Absolutely.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521I don't know, you start making observations, so I don't know if she played the night before late, Have that match the next day like that. And then they playing hard like that.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah. Yeah.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521They were
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521light
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554they typically get one day in between sets, though she wouldn't have necessarily played the next day, but just the stress of the whole situation. All of the interviews she had to do that, probably took away from her opportunity to practice. She's a mother too. She's a mom, so she's tennis mom. So that means she had to take off time to have a child and still come back. And so even with that's extra kudos to her. I, my take on it is to, to Mike's point I think a lot of times when you have foreign players and a lot of times those players are bilingual or trilingual or Lord knows how many languages they speak and she tried to defend herself by saying that it wasn't her intention to come across as a racist so much as she was using it in. Tennis terms in terms of the etiquette of tennis.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Yes.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554the ball just skimmed the net and fell on the other side and it's an actual play. It's not anything that they, they're give taking points off or they don't call it back. It's, and then a lot of times, just from habit sake, a player, because they don't intend to do that, obviously, if they could do it every time, they would, They all throw their hand up or something, but it's not required. You don't get points taken away if you don't. It's just tennis etiquette She decided not to do that. She was in the middle of the match. She persisted with the match.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521There
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554She won the match. And so she the opponent took offense to that from a petty standpoint because she was mad more, more so than anything about losing,
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Correct
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554what it looked more like she was a sore loser than a racist.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521One point, didn't decide
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554No. So I think that all of the controversies surrounding that, there was interviews here, there and then more eyes on that match, which was more pressure. Not that she hadn't played on big stages before, but I think, she did all that she could, given the circumstances she played. Three sets, and I think the last one was six four or six five, I can't remember. She didn't just bow down. It wasn't 6 0 6 1 6 2. It, she's,
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521then
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554played that match. And Taylor Townsend is the name that I'm familiar with and I know now more people are familiar with and that going forward even more although I have to give a shout out to Coco, Coco hanging in there. You'll get her next time. Naomi Got you. Naomi is on the come up. So don't bow your head, Coco.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah. The comeback story for her,
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521is, but she's a two time us open champion Naomi is.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yes.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521has not won the US open yet.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521right?
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521well, but she hasn't,
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521won it
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Alright Mike, you've got this theory. Is it a theory or you want, just talk about tariffs in inflation.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Yes. Tariffs and inflation. Here we go. All right. Tariffs will fuel inflation. Now, the federal court ruled seven to four that the decision to impose taxes, including tariffs, rest exclusively with Congress. So they said the current tariffs that and levies imposed on 60 countries will remain in effect until October 14th, unless the Supreme Court steps in and of course. The chief felon of the United States went right to the Supreme Court and said, yeah, he wants an emergency injunction. It was very clear that the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act did not apply. In this case, that's not an emergency. So that's why the court rejected that claim. But the court's decision does not affect levies on sector specific goods. Like copper, aluminum, steel, those were brought under a
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521All right.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521A different authority. If the federal court ruling stays, it goes into effect. We're gonna be back to 16% of the goods entering the United States, subject to the tariffs, which is currently 69%
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Wow.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521goods entering the United States. And I'm not sure if that 69% includes the latest imposition on packages under$800. That's affecting everyone in the United
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Right.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521So your question, yeah. Is it fueling inflation? Yes. Because basic rule of business, all business costs are put onto the consumer.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554It's
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521how
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Passed on, right?
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521It's spread out over the consumer. Do business absorbing every cost. And, the chief felon knows that. And so for him to impose those tariffs, he knew what he was doing. He knew who was That ultimately because. The companies are required to collect those tariffs before they ship to the United States. So when they ship it, they have to ship the tariff with it. The money has to come the account with it. I'm having a problem now. You getting music?'cause most of my music comes from Europe. The vinyl.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521All right.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521And I can't get it because they're not gonna ship to the United States. It's not that the tariff is too much, they're just not gonna ship, they're not gonna do business with this guy. Real quick, you saw what happened with the 20 countries including Russia, China, and India that just had that summit. Okay, first, let me back up a bit, and this is clearly barbershop talk, but Putin told his butt, not stopping nothing. You can talk that travesty, that waste of time in Alaska with something else
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554And money.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Putin had no intention of negotiating with this dude. Said, I'm not stopping nothing. Your bullying act doesn't bother me. Do whatever it is you wanna do, here's what we gonna do. After we finish this meeting, we're gonna cancel all this other stuff. We're gonna go out here and have this press conference and we're gonna act like we friends. When he got out there, what did Putin tell him? He said the next time. In Moscow, perhaps.'Cause I'm not coming back to you make no mistake about what that was. We gonna meet again, you coming to me? Then he turns around and has this economic summit with India and China
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yes.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_16352117 or 20 other countries, whatever it was, they gonna freeze off the United States.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554North Korea,
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521dogs no more,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554right?
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521They don't care about y'all. You can bully y'all. We just gonna freeze you out. We are not gonna do business with you. You get what you get when you get it. If you get it if you wanna spur your domestic production, go right ahead. whatever it is you think you can do. But we are gonna go ahead with our money. Not gonna stop because of what you doing.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521And that's what that was. For lack of a better word, he got B slapped.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Oh, wow.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521That's what that was. They got together and said, look, care about you anything that you do. What are you gonna do? What are you gonna do? And so what did he turned around and do? Oh, that's very unfair. I should be doing more business with us. No, they already told you Going to bully the world into doing business with you on your terms.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Alright.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521to do business with
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521They don't,
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521business with other
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521they can.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521they decided to do.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521They,
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521do tariffs fuel inflation? Yes. And we about to really see it.'cause your shelves gonna be empty. India not gonna ship nothing here. He gonna impose more tariffs on India because they're buying oil from Russia. Wow.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521you trying to tell other people who they can and can't buy stuff from
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554He does.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521we don't
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554He does.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521With Pakistan and India,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554he, yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Yes, it's gonna fuel it. What am I gonna do? I'm not buying nothing I absolutely have to. And even of mine, I was talking with her today, she was in a dollar store the other day and talking to the guy and the guy told her that you want, buy two or three of'em right now.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Wow.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Come back here, it is not gonna be here.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554right?
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521The dollar stores are gonna become$10 stores.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554$5 stores right now.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah. They$5 stores.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521There is no way,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yep.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521way
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521The American public can absorb those costs. What he's doing is he's gonna make sure that he gets paid everything coming into this country, to the packages under$800 if you order something off Amazon, Chen or any of them, he gonna get his cut. You get it.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521gonna Cut, he gonna end a hundred year old
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Hey, look.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521on that stuff.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Just by example. If nothing else, he's slowing it down. I ordered a as an aside, I ordered an extra needle for my turntable.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Right.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554And the first time I ordered it, it came probably in a couple weeks. Initially, I ordered a couple weeks ago. They said it would be here, early September. Got something the other day, said it would be here in early October,
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Oh my
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554I wouldn't be surprised if they push it out now. I don't know if it's coming from another country or if it's, I don't know what's going on. I didn't check that deep. These are the types of things that happen as a result of the games he's playing, because he thinks he's the biggest dog on the porch and he's not. And it's, at some point I'm hoping we'll all wake up from this nightmare because even given the decision by the court, Mike that type of thing becomes. Incidental when he can go back to the Supreme Court, which we know is heavily right, weighted, with the Trump appointees and essentially they have not really given into us, when I say us, the American people, as opposed to doing what Trump wants them to do. The court is not what the court was. I don't care what anybody says. When he made his appointments, he was stacking the deck. And so I'm hopeful that they'll come back and they'll take a look at the decisions made by the federal court and say, you know what? You guys are right. But somehow or another, they find a loophole to be able to say, he's the president. He has the right to do whatever he wants. Let him do it
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Uhhuh,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554because I'm stuck on the fact and I can't get off the fact to this change. A president can do anything he or she wants to do. There hasn't been any she yet, obviously, but anything he wants to do without regard for the law.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521The court right now is 6 Republicans and three Democrats?
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Three, I believe it is, it's real heavy. I believe it's six and three. Yep.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521yeah. And occasionally they'd get Roberts to make a reasonable,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Roberts is the one who decided that the president has the right to do whatever he wants to do above the law. So if when he did that, he didn't have to do too much. Anything else, Tom
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521If it's unconstitutional.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554That's it.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521I don't need a judge to tell me what's constitutional and what is not.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554But who's upholding it?
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521myself
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554who's up?
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521for myself.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521All of us can, I'm sick of having my intelligence insulted by
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yes.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521I can read the Constitution and understand very well. All of us can, And if they're not gonna follow the Constitution. Why should we follow it?
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554It, but if
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521follow any law if you're not gonna follow the Constitution?
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554What happens with that Mike is it sounds good. It is logical and I agree, but the muscle is where the muscle is at. I just saw something that says that they're going to send troops into, I wanna say Chicago and Baltimore, I think California pushed back.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Correct.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554but when he starts doing that's the muscle, that's the intimidation. You can decide not to pay taxes if you want to. Then they'll start putting a lien on your house. Then they'll start snatching your house. Then they'll start doing whatever they can to make you really uncomfortable.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Right.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521All right.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554And that's a fear factor.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Assuming that the United States is still the United States,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521once it breaks up and no more IRS,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521once these governors stand up and say, you know what,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Then it's up to the states. Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Because, this is, the federal government only exists because the states allow it.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521At any time, governors can call it constitutional convention and abolish the federal government. That can happen. Is in the constitution, and that is why we have a constitution. So what is going on now would not happen. So if people stop paying taxes is not gonna do it.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554No.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521If everybody stopped paying taxes, that still wouldn't stop fascism and autocracy. It's only one way to root that out. did it in World War ii and we're gonna have to do it again. I'm gonna leave it at that.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Alright.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Look, they don't, you'll see. There is no way that there's gonna be any elections next year. It's just not gonna happen.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521I hope you're wrong, Michael Miller.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Look, you don't build a ballroom for, hundreds of millions
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521to build this ballroom On leaving.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554that's what somebody said. That's what some comedian, said. Now not looking to leave.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521He's not planning on leaving
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Did they put an extra layer fencing around the White House?
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Yes. But yeah, dude is off the chain.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Everything this government is doing right now is strategic and the direction it's going in is not a direction that we're accustomed to.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Right.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554of the things they should have put into the Constitution, which they didn't, maybe afterwards they can do something like this. If you swear an oath to uphold the Constitution and you don't uphold the Constitution, it should be an impeachable offense. That includes the president, that includes any Congress people who decide to deviate from the Constitution. That's the whole basis of where we are today. That's the whole point of us having this union, because we're supposed to go by the guidelines of the Constitution. Now, if you want to amend the Constitution, there's a way to do that.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Thank
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554You cannot have a Supreme Court that in effect. And I'm just gonna, I'm just gonna, this is just something that really wrinkles me, that can come and say that the President is above the law. The Constitution indicates that the President can't be above the law. So how can the court come back and say that the president is above the law, so there's something going on. Tom, you turn me onto that book, man. And ever since I read that book, the wheels have been spinning because if it happened in fiction, it could happen in real life. There's people on the perimeter who are not the president. They're thinking this stuff through.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yep.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554trying to make it happen. And he's a puppet, more or less'cause he's not that intelligent.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521you. Thank
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554His strings are being worked.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554And so we have to be aware of what's going on. There's some, there's, they're lining it up every time I hear I almost hate to listen to the news, but that's by design. He don't want us to listen to the news. He wants us to be ignorant.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Being reported is,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554every move is going geared towards fascism So it is, and he's moving fast.'cause we're only in what, this month? Month nine. So eight months in total.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521You're right.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554And he's done all of this in little or no time. He's got three more years
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Okay.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554plus.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521He's moved to, I think it's the state of Missouri. He's asked that governor to redistrict, to offset
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554To
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521offset what Texas is doing.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Is what we are gonna have
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah,
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521redistricting States to
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521each other.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Ultimately, he's gonna declare some sort of emergency, This is an emergency.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521He's going to declare some sort of emergency that is gonna, oh no, we can't have any elections because he knows that he's going to lose
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yes. But the Republicans have seated their authority which in effect gives him the power to do whatever he wants to do.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521And so that's why I said, okay, if there's no elections,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554It's possible.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Y'all will see.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554A, Hey Mike. I'm on that team that says possible but not probable. That's with a wink in a prayer, because much like you he's going in, I would not be shocked. I would not be surprised.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521No.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521If he did attempt that what do you think would be the reaction of the governors?
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521I think a few are just gonna say, forget you. I'm not doing that. Thing about mail-in votes and voting machines.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521But you noticed they changed the terminology of that? It used to be absentee ballot.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah. It used to be absentee.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521A
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554yeah.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Connotation on it.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554They started moving towards that time, and I'm gonna say this because when I thought of absentee voters, I thought of people who were outta the country,
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521right.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554seniors who were unable to get to the polls.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521right.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554And it was a specialized opportunity for people who couldn't otherwise get into the polls. And they did expand it to having, basically everybody and it makes sense because it makes it easy. You don't have to stand in line, and it makes sense. So I don't know what took so long to get to mail in votes. Because why did you have to go into rain or,'cause weather oftentimes impacted polls, right? People are like, I'm not going to vote and standing out,
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521what the fascist wants.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554That's what he wants.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521affect the
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Get back to that.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Any reason for you
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yes.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521to go, that's what
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Right.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554what he want. They, he don't wanna make it easy. The idea is to make it easy because everybody should be able to participate.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Thank you.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521now.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521you.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521The conversation is that it is going hurt the Republicans. That's'cause that's how they vote. Majority of them, not majority of them, but a good portion of them vote by Mailin
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554The last,
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521all the pundits are saying this is going to hurt his party.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554The last election time, their numbers are increasing. They're getting used to the notion because, you get into the habit of doing something. Like me, I was used to going into the polls. I'd be one of the first ones there'cause I hated waiting. I'd do it before work. When my mom was here, she got her ballot. Then I started getting my ballot and I've been getting it ever since. I even thought about not getting the ballot. Then I thought to myself, how much sense does that make if sending it here? I can take time, I can review everything. I can make a decision To having a guess on this candidate or that candidate. And it just makes sense. It gives people more time to make a decision that reflects how they really feel as opposed to trying to remember something. Maybe you can, but, so I think. Mail in may come across as negative, but to me for all intents and purposes, that's a positive really. Trump is making it. Mike, what do you call him? What do you call that guy? Yeah, the fascist and
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Chief Felon. Of the United
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554chief Fellow
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554States. He's trying to make it a bad thing
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521But you're
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554because
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521are increasing on their side
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554I think the Republicans are starting to increase their numbers for mail-in participation too.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah. Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521if you look, many states have been trying to shut down polling places in Or African American areas making you have to drive further, go further to do, absentee ballots solve that problem.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yes.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521So that, yeah. Take that away. Now they still gotta drive. 25 miles,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521and The rain or the snow
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Or have to catch a bus if they don't have transportation.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Ride.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Part?
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521And they make it darn near illegal to give somebody a ride to the polls.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521You can't go pick up people and take them to the polls. It is what it is. They're gonna do everything they can to stay in power.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521And all is fair and love. War and politics.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521that too. So I saw something and I'm not gonna go into it too much. We had this conversation some weeks ago on this show about the Democrats and what's their response? I read something maybe seven or eight days ago and I saved it i'll send it to you.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Okay.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521It basically said. You gotta take the gloves off. And that's what I was saying,
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521take the Off.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554what I was saying Mike.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521and Keith were saying that, and I
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521not on that. Oh. I wasn't on board that train yet.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521In order to get elected, The gloves off. Now, You can do what you wanna do. You can take the high road, but you not gonna get elected today taking the high road.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Good, bad, or indifference. Gavin Newsom is taking the gloves off.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521You have to do it. You gotta do it because that least common denominator, it's what fires people up to get to the polls. Said, Keith, good, bad, or different. It is what it is.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554It is what it is.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521take the gloves off, get elected, and then come back and say, we're gonna do these good things.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Right.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521You see what I mean? But you gotta attack the other side. When I say take the gloves off. You really got attacked the other Leave nothing out.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah. Hey, Gavin Newton put something out where he put the numbers out advising that in the case of California specifically it's a state that has less crime, contributes more to the economy than any other state, maybe the fourth largest economy in the world.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521right?
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554all of the things that they do contra to what the Republicans are saying. And so each blue state needs to enumerate the same thing, and at least show that where in the case of where he's trying to, send troops into all of the cities with black mayors, they need to be able to show. This neighbor next to me, whether it be Ohio or wherever, we have better numbers than them, but you want to send troops here, but you're not worried about sending troops to red states where the economy is worse, where the crime is worse, whatever. We need to be able to reflect that everything he's doing is smoking mirrors
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Right.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554a lot of what he's doing, if not all of it, is predicated on blatant racism.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Send some troops to the churches and schools where these shootings are going on.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Uhhuh, why don't you send troops there and keep those safe since you're so worried about crime.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Wow.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554and Tom read that.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521that, that's saying a lot. Mike
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521it
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554yeah. I think it's a YouTube video that Mike sent basically she talks about what Mike and I were trying to impart regarding how he profits from his candidacy How it does impact people like you and I. It's just not him going out there, being a savvy and astute businessman getting paid it's on the backs of us, the United States. She lays it out in a way that Mike and I were able to lay it out to convince you. But I think once you see that YouTube video, you'll at least raise your eyebrows even if you don't get on board.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Moving into our save the children's segment. As you guys know, I was, trying to size myself up, going through the process of trying to figure out, I'll just maybe substitute teach. I had to go through, a couple of hoops to get that to take place, right? So I did the background check the fingerprinting, did a workshop, did some modules. So I'm part of a of a temp company called EDU staff, then I had to become licensed by the state of Michigan once all that other stuff clears through. So two weeks ago I got my permit from the state of Michigan to become a substitute teacher.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Congratulations.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Hey, thank you.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521So yeah, getting a license is big deal. You around here,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554yes, sir.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521know that.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yes, sir.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521I was having a conversation with Marsha and I was telling her, I'm not into getting a, long-term assignment I just want to pop in, pop out. The main thing I wanted to give back. I For the youth, right? Impart my knowledge about things outside of what's inside of the book. I recently read an article that caught my attention. The number two cause of death of children five to 14 is drowning. And I was wow. Blown away by that. And, and number is greater in an African American community,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554For sure.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521The day I got my permit, the next day, my email box was blown up by all these opportunities to go teach. So they used two different apps. So I went on one of the apps was an assignment there. again, I was not thinking about long term. I wasn't sure I wanted to do anything. I just knew my biggest thing was I didn't wanna make it feel like a job, right? I didn't want to be, I don't wanna be reporting at 7 25, 7 45 some assignment. So I went on the app and there was an assignment there, and the assignment was for PE the elementary school. That's like less than 10 minutes my house. I was like, do I take this? So I went to talk to Marsha and we were going back and forth about it for a few minutes, I remembered that article and I said, you know what? Oh, this an assignment went through September 30th. I was like, oh, okay. That, that's testing the waters.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Right.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521And so I clicked on it. Then once I jumped on it, comes to find out it's two schools.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Oh.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Really?
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521it's two elementary schools,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Okay.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521in Wayne and one in Westland.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Okay.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521My week is divided by going to Wayne School on Monday, and part of the day on Friday.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Okay.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Wednesday, Thursday, I'm at the Westland School, so that adds another 10 minutes. So I'm driving about 20 minutes to the further school
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Okay.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521The beauty, the thinking that I'm okay with, in choosing the assignment again, was it was PE and they start at eight 50 So Okay, I get to sleep in I ain't gotta be up at the crack of dawn trying to make my way to a school, To avoid all the traffic from the kids or parents. I jumped on it, so I'm on it so I get there. The principal is ecstatic to see me, right?
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Obviously.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521And it was funny because he was like, okay let me show you around. The first day was a half day, right? I had three classes come in and I didn't have a lesson plan, and I still don't have a lesson plan.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Oh
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521he was hoping to get a lesson plan from head ed teacher within the district, and we still
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554okay.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Somewhat prepared to do a few things. Basically what I did was I started off by doing exercises. I work on imagination by saying, okay, we're going to learn some swimming strokes. I try to show them the method of how to tread water, just by doing muscle memory.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Okay.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521I don't get these kids for 50 minutes and you A week, It's elementary school, I don't get'em every day. So I did all that. Then once we finished all of those layers of jumping jacks I say, okay, we're gonna train for the Olympics. I get them going with rowing. Using their imagination to do some rowing on the scooters. So you
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Okay.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521saw me in that video on the scooter,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521So I got them doing scooters, got the kids doing hockey, and that's coordination, hand eye coordination with using a puck. And I The cones.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Okay.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521All right? So now imagine this one. I got girls doing it. I've got kids that are African American doing it, Got young kids doing it. A challenge'cause nobody has any idea what to do with the stick.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521My
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554no.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521has any idea about roaring, of roaring. Sure don't know anything about a backstroke and a breaststroke.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521now I'm introducing
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554think I would've paid for the video.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521yeah.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521I'm introducing them to that.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Okay.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521So the US opens here. So I, I'm thinking, oh, In fact, I got tennis balls where the tennis rackets at.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Okay.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521baseball bats. I got a ton of basketballs, but I ain't seen no tennis rackets.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Hula hoops I saw,
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521So I reach out to Mike. Mike say, yeah, I got something. But they got adult grips on them. They not
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554right?
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521They not gonna fit for a kid.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521those little
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521And then he
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554That part?
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521out to the local USTA. So I do, I
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Okay.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Last week Me right back. then they said okay, this is a long weekend. We just have to get back with you next week. then they hit me with something that says, okay, we have new rackets. No problem. How do, she did. She wasn't asking me directly, it was a rhetorical question. She We introduced'em to tennis. We get them to go to the next step? How do we get them from not going from being introduced to tennis to going to play soccer? Was saying, that she has to talk to her leadership about, So that's where we're at with that. I, look at it as an opportunity to share something with kids who not have been exposed to some stuff. I only have'em for 50 minutes. I'm introducing'em to other life skills and sharing and, Keeping your hands to yourself.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah. Yeah.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521that.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554How old are they?
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Kindergarten.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Okay. Yeah.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521to
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521to the fifth
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Okay.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Young folks,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554yeah.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521I'm enjoying it. I was wearing me out because I'm sweaty by the end of the day, and I,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554How many kids.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521huh.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554How many kids at one time?
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521It could be between 10 and 20 something.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Wow.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Okay.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521have'em come in and like I said, we do the jumping jacks, they spread out where they have enough room to do the jumping jacks, we go from there. And then
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Okay.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521them, do relays a bunch of relay stuff. I wear'em out and then I
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Oh yeah,
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521give'em about anywhere between 10 and 15 minutes of play time, depending on how they,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Okay.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521During the course of me trying to give'em a lesson.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Sounds like a lot of fun though.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Oh, definitely. And
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554yeah.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521If you remember your teacher used to get a prep hour. I'm got two prep hours in the course of the week,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554wow.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521anything.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554At actually Tom, while you wait on a lesson plan, you've come up with lesson plans and it's a matter of how you really wanna organize'em.'cause it sounds like you've done a lot in a little time,
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554and I know you only have in theory, a month until the end of this month. But you can make an impact I think, especially for the really little ones. Gym is really about fun. It's almost like organized chaos. You just, they just really being physical and burning energy for that time. But if you can add some structure around that and introduce them to some new concepts like you doing I think that's pretty cool. So it sounds to me you're off to a good start and you are making a difference.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Thanks.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Do you play dodge ball?
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554I thought about that. I love dodgeball
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521they want to play dodge ball. The fourth and fifth graders, I've got some meek students. I got a couple of Light some people up and I'd be with crying kids.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521It.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521ain't trying to deal with no crying
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554You can spread'em out though. You can spread'em out in less than a blow. If it's a big gym, you spread'em out far enough, they gotta catch it. And if the meek ones don't catch it, they get it, they little touch on their hand or something you signal you out. Go sit until the next one but there's kickball, and so many different things you can do. That's gotta be a lot of fun.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521It is. And they enjoy it. I give'em a free time and I've pass out basketballs. I pass out jump ropes and I hulu hoops footballs and soccer ball.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Okay.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521They entertain themselves for those last 10, 15 minutes.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Okay.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521But the thing is, I don't want to have to deal with noses,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554What do they call you?
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Mr. Corley
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554okay.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Oh.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Okay.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521One teacher it might have been the first teacher I had, she asked me, she said, what do you want'em to call you? I said what do you think that I should do? And she said, Mr. Corley.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah. Good man. That's inspirational. I know one thing for sure. They don't know it, but they recognize it at the end. They got a good person leading them
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521So that's my contribution to the today's youth within the communities that I can serve.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Good for you.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521I never thought when I signed up for a subject two teaching that, phys ed would be one of the subjects.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521important today.'cause all they do is sit
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Oh my God.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521punch on a PlayStation or games.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Even in my sub I used to see kids out all the time and you'd Nothing today.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Ain't not doing that
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554literally today Mike, coincidentally, so Tiff's office is in the front and when it's nice like it was today, she'll open the door and the window. And I tell you, those kids were going all day and she was like, them little rascals, why aren't they in school?
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521What they get an extra day or something. didn't get No extra day for Memorial Day.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521right.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Alright.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554were having a ball over here today, and I said, you know what it is, it's because they're going back to school and they know they gotta take advantage of every minute to have some fun. But for the most part, to your point, most of these little rascals, they like being on the computer and being inside.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554And so physical fitness is important.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521That's one of the things that I glad I'm doing that physical part because they are not used to it. In fact, it was shocking. I came home the other day and I was asking Marsha, I said, what's your earlier memory of doing jump rope? She said I have to be doing jumper. When I was in the first grade Fourth, fifth grade that don't know how to do a jump rope.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Really?
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521I was like, wow, what am I
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Hey, you talk about junk rope. Them little girls where I was growing up, they was double ducking.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521yeah.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554They were fancy with it.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521quick answer to your question, Tom. How do you get the kids engaged
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yes.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521learning and school about tennis?
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Okay.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Keep'em engaged. That's where the USTA comes in.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Okay.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521So that's how you keep'em engaged in tennis, beyond school.'cause you can only affect them while they're at school.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554short time.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Right
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521So question, your answer to her is. going to, you're going to expose them tennis every chance you And it's, but it's up to the child. If the child doesn't wanna continue in tennis, no use of forcing
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Right.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521right
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521But those that want to continue, refer them to the youth programs available in your area. So that would be my answer to her as to how to keep them engaged. Number two, tennis players. And this is on a physical tip. players live an average of nine or 10 years longer than any other sport, than any other participant in any other sport,
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Oh,
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521Longer than basketball, football, hockey, swimming, soccer those sports, none of them reached the level of tennis. Where you are using so many muscles and have so much cardiovascular workout going Those that continue in tennis live an average of nine or 10 years longer.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Nah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521That's just what it is. Then you can look those stats up yourself, but it's the truth. So that's your retort to
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521You want the kids to live longer, but you know the part about keeping them engaged. You'll keep'em engaged if you have somewhere to refer them to.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521right
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521you can affect them there,
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yes, exactly.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521the school
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Exactly.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521They, if they wanna continue, if they wanna continue. You'll refer them to whatever programs are available if you know about them, Up to her to make sure that you know about the youth programs and it's up to the local USTA to provide those programs.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554In another issue, Tom based on how you started and not the, and I know you can only do so much, you're short time, but the issue of getting kids engaged, interested in participating in swimming as it relates to the deaths of young children and how typically they end up meeting their demise if more understood and didn't have a fear of the water, knew how to navigate through the water swim, that is how many more lives could be saved. So how do you get the kids to become interested and then when they become interested, how do we get that sustained? Do we have more communication with the parents?
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Right.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Do we offer, to Mike's point do we offer opportunities outside of the class? Is there some type of partnership that you can, you can come up with Perhaps get free lessons or something of that sort for the kids? When they learn young, they have less fear. The older you get, the more you're you're aware of the potential for drowning and just, just being afraid. A lot of people are simply afraid of being in the water, when the kids are young, I know a lot of families, I don't know a lot of families personally, but what I see for, other than that African Americans is they start their kids off, especially if they have access to a pool like right away. Babies are in the water with the little floaties on their arm and they're kicking and it becomes more natural. They're not afraid. And so it's easier for them to learn. So to that point, if you're on a mission of sorts hot tennis is certainly one thing and that's the good thing. To Mike's point, if you're living nine years longer, then it's good for your health.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Right.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554But I can't imagine that swimming isn't far behind.'cause that's also a really
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521i'm
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554good
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521That's a shock.
michael-miller_1_09-02-2025_163521I can pull up, the charts out there.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554There's a lot of running back and forth and like you said, all of the muscle groups that you use just, The flexibility. And you watch some of these tournaments and it's incredible. What they do on attendance court.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Yeah,
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554So it doesn't shock me. I'm not surprised. I know you have a passion for it, Mike, so I don't think you would provide us, even though we're in the barbershop here, I don't think you would provide us any info.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521Keith. We got a
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Yeah we are fact check it. We'll fact check. Check it though.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521All right, gentlemen, I appreciate you
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554always good talking to you guys. Look forward to this.
thomas_1_09-02-2025_163521All right, we'll talk to you guys.
keith_1_09-02-2025_163554Alright have a great one. Likewise.
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